Acid Reflux
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Acid Reflux Q & A
What is acid reflux?
Acid reflux is a common gastric problem in which stomach acid travels up into your esophagus. Stomach acid is so strong it inflames the lining of your esophagus, leading to chest pain known as heartburn.
Acid starts to reflux when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) — a ring of muscle at the bottom of your esophagus — gets too weak or damaged to close properly. A healthy LES opens to allow food and drink into your stomach, then closes to form a seal that prevents acid reflux.Â
You might experience acid reflux if you:
- Are overweight or obese
- Have a high-fat diet
- Smoke
- Have a hiatal hernia
- Eat large meals
- Lay down after eating
- Eat spicy, fatty, or citrus foods
Chronic acid reflux can lead to GERD, which can make you more likely to develop conditions like an esophageal stricture or ulcer, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal cancer.
How is acid reflux treated?
In most cases, a combination of medications and lifestyle changes resolves acid reflux very effectively. Avoiding the unhealthy habits that trigger acid reflux is important, and the AMI Surgery team can help you with weight loss treatments.
Medications include antacids, which help neutralize the acid in your stomach, and drugs such as proton pump inhibitors that affect acid production.
If you continue to experience acid reflux despite following a conservative treatment program, you might need surgery. AMI Surgery performs expert procedures, including same-day surgeries that conform to the highest safety standards. The practice also accepts most insurance plans.
What surgery might I need for acid reflux?
The standard surgery for acid reflux is Nissen fundoplication. It involves wrapping the top of your stomach around your esophagus to support the LES.
One option for performing Nissen fundoplication is minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, which avoids the large incisions necessary in open surgery. Benefits of a laparoscopic approach include less pain and discomfort, a quick recovery, and minimal to no scarring.
What alternative treatments are available for acid reflux?
AMI Surgery also offers incisionless surgery for acid reflux for suitable patients. Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) uses advanced endoscopic techniques.
An endoscope is a flexible instrument that fits down your throat. It has a camera that relays images of the inside of your body to a monitor in the operating room.Â
Your provider at AMI Surgery passes the endoscope through a TIF device that enables them to repair or recreate the LES using surgical tweezers and fasteners.
If persistent acid reflux affects your quality of life, find out whether TIF or another treatment could relieve your symptoms. Talk to AMI Surgery’s bilingual surgeons and staff by calling the office nearest you, or book an appointment online today.
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