What is GERD?
GERD is an acronym for gastroesophageal reflux disease, which occurs when acid reflux flows back into your esophagus on a chronic basis. The esophagus is the tube that stretches between your mouth and stomach, and the backwash of fluids is called acid reflux. Acid reflux is accompanied by a burning, tightening sensation behind the breastbone and may radiate to the neck and throat.
GERD causes the esophagus to be chronically exposed to acid reflux at least twice per week and can lead to bleeding, ulcers, scarring and possibly cancer. GERD does not always respond to over-the-counter medications; therefore patients with severe cases of GERD often seek a physician’s help.
Five things to know about GERD
- About 1 in 5 Americans have GERD, whose main symptoms include chronic heartburn, regurgitation, problems swallowing and coughing.1
- Heartburn is the primary symptom, but regurgitation is also common, occurring in about 80% of patients.2
- GERD is caused by a weakened lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the muscle or valve between the stomach and esophagus that serves as the body’s natural barrier to reflux.3
- Treatment options include lifestyle and dietary modifications, medical therapy, the LINX® procedure and anti-reflux surgery, depending on the severity of the condition.4
- In rare instances, GERD may lead to serious complications including esophageal stricture, bleeding, or a condition called Barrett’s esophagus, which in rare instances can lead to esophageal cancer.5 LINX® is not intended to treat, cure, prevent or mitigate these diseases.
What causes GERD?
Unlike acid reflux and heartburn that can often be traced back to something a person ate or did shortly after eating, GERD is a chronic condition that requires an examination of a person’s anatomy and long-lasting habits to find a cause. Common causes of GERD include:
What are the differences between GERD, acid reflux and heartburn?
GERD, acid reflux and heartburn are often confused or interchanged for each other but they are actually three separate things. Acid reflux is a common medical condition that can range from being mild to serious. GERD is a form of acid reflux, but it is chronic and more severe. Heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux and GERD.
Signs and Symptoms
Frequency
Non-Medical Treatments
Pharmaceutical Treatments
Surgical Treatments
GERD
Burning sensation in your chest usually after eating and possibly at night
Bad breath
Damage to tooth enamel
Heartburn
Chest pain
Difficulty swallowing
Regurgitation of food or sour liquid
Sensation of a lump in your throat
Chronic cough
Laryngitis
New or worsening asthma
Disrupted sleep
Require over-the-counter medications 2+ times per week
2+ Times a Week
Replace large meals with several small meals
Avoid trigger including chocolate, coffee, greasy/salty/high-fat/spicy foods, peppermint, tomatoes and tomato products
Do not drink carbonated beverages
Do not recline shortly after eating
Sleep at an incline
Avoid tight fitting clothes
Lose weight while under a physician’s guidance
Stop smoking
Antacids
H2 Blockers (Tagamet, Pepcid)
Proton Pump Inhibitors (Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid, Protonix)
LINX®
ACID REFLUX
Cough
Sore throat
Bitter taste in the back of the throat
Sour taste in the mouth
Burning and pressure extending up the breastbone
Occasional
Acid reflux’s nonmedical treatments are similar to those of GERD. The real difference between the two is the frequency in which they occur. GERD is chronic. Acid reflux happens more occasionally.
Acid reflux’s nonmedical treatments are similar to those of GERD. The real difference between the two is the frequency in which they occur. GERD is chronic. Acid reflux happens more occasionally.
Since acid reflux happens occasionally, surgery is not usually recommended.
hEARTBURN
Sharp, burning, tightening sensation in the chest
Discomfort can radiate behind the breastbone, into the neck and/or throat
Can be mistaken for heart attack symptoms
Occasional
Heartburn is a symptom of GERD and acid reflux; therefore, its nonmedical and pharmaceutical treatments are often the same.
Heartburn is a symptom of GERD and acid reflux; therefore, its nonmedical and pharmaceutical treatments are often the same.
Since heartburn is a symptom of GERD and acid reflux, surgery is not usually recommended.
Symptoms of heartburn are often mistaken for heart attack, but the two conditions are unrelated. You should call 911 immediately if your heartburn discomfort and chest pain changes or gets worse and is accompanied by:
These symptoms can be symptoms of a heart attack.
How can Heartland Weight Loss Clinic treat my GERD?
Heartland Weight Loss Clinic offers nonmedical, pharmaceutical and surgical treatments for GERD.
Non-Surgical GERD Treatments
Since obesity often contributes to GERD, Heartland Weight Loss Clinic offers Its non-surgical weight loss programs to GERD patients. It starts by identifying obstacles that have prevented you from losing weight through diet and exercise. Its medical team addresses those obstacles by administering appetite suppressant medication, nutrition and exercise counseling, vitamin B12 injections, vitamin optimization and protein supplements to increase your metabolism and overall health while monitoring and adjusting its approach based upon your measured progress.
Pharmaceutical GERD Treatments
If a non-medical weight loss program isn’t right for you, Heartland Weight Loss Clinic can help you find a pharmaceutical solution to address your GERD. Please be aware that the most difficult cases of GERD may not respond to pharmaceutical treatments. If you have exhausted those measures on our own, it might be time to consider a surgical treatment.
Surgical GERD Treatment, LINX® Treatment
Heartland Weight Loss Clinic offers LINX® as a surgical treatment for GERD. LINX® is a flexible band of magnetic beads that a surgeon wraps around the weakened lower esophageal sphincter to serve as a physical barrier to acid reflux. LINX® is a proven, effective treatment for GERD as 90% to 95% of patients have stopped taking medications to treat their GERD, and 5% to 10% rarely take GERD medications.
Five Things to Know about LINX® Treatment
- The LINX® Reflux Management System is a flexible band of magnetic beads, about the size of a quarter, that a surgeon wraps around a weakened lower esophageal sphincter, the valve or muscle that serves as the body’s natural barrier to reflux.1
- Once implanted in a minimally invasive procedure that typically lasts less than an hour,2 the magnetic band expands to allow food to enter the stomach and then contracts to prevent stomach acids from flowing back up into the esophagus.
- Many patients are able to go home within 24 hours 3 and are soon able to eat without restrictions and no longer need daily prescription GERD medications.
- Studies show five years after a LINX® procedure, 88% of patients report bothersome heartburn has been eliminated,4 85% are free from dependence on daily reflux medication 5 and 99% no longer experience regurgitation.
- A 6-month study showed LINX® treatment to be significantly more effective than twice-daily proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in relieving regurgitation, improving quality of life, reducing reflux episodes and eliminating the need for acid suppression medications.7
1 https://www.linxforlife.com/about-linx
2 Based on prospective observational study of 67 patients that underwent placement of LINX® device between April 2012 and Dec. 2013, a 6-year single-center prospective case series of 100 patients that underwent MSA, and an IDE trial involving 100 patients implanted with LINX®. Median operative times were 60 minutes, 47 minutes, and 39 minutes, respectively.
3 Based on pivotal IDE trial of 100 subjects at 14 clinical sites. Half the subjects (50/100) were discharged the same day as the surgery, and the other half were discharged the next day.
4 Based on 5-year prospective, multi-center, single-arm study observing 100 patients who were implanted with LINX®, bothersome heartburn was 89% at baseline and decreased to 11.9% at 5 years. (p<0.001)
5 Ganz R. Edmundowicz S, Taiganides P, et al. Long-term Outcomes of Patients Receiving a Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation Device for Gastroesophageal Reflux. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016. 14(5):671-7. Based on a study observing 100 patients who were implanted with LINX®, daily use of PPIs decreased to 15.3% at 5 years. (p<0.001)
6 Ganz R. Edmundowicz S, Taiganides P, et al. Long-term Outcomes of Patients Receiving a Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation Device for Gastroesophageal Reflux. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2016. 14(5):671-7. Based on 5-year prospective, multi-center, single-arm study observing 100 patients implanted with LINX®, regurgitation was 57% at baseline and decreased to 1.2% at 5 years. (p<0.001)
LINX® Reflux Management System Important Safety Information
The LINX® Reflux Management System is a laparoscopic, fundic-sparing anti-reflux procedure indicated for patients diagnosed with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) as defined by abnormal pH testing, and who are seeking an alternative to continuous acid suppression therapy (i.e. proton pump inhibitors or equivalent) in the management of their GERD. Rx Only. Contraindications: Do not implant the LINX® system in patients with suspected or known allergies to titanium, stainless steel, nickel, or ferrous materials. Warnings: The LINX® device is considered MR Conditional in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system up to either 0.7 Tesla (0.7T) or 1.5 Tesla (1.5T), depending on the LINX® model implanted. Laparoscopic placement of the LINX® device is major surgery. General Precautions: The LINX® device is a long-term implant for use in patients 21 years or older. Medical management of adverse reactions may include explantation and/or replacement. Potential Risks Associated with LINX® System: belching, decreased appetite, device erosion, device migration (device does not appear to be at the implant site), dysphagia (difficult swallowing), flatulence, hiccups, inability to belch or vomit, infection, nausea, odynophagia (painful swallowing), pain regurgitation, stomach bloating, weight loss, and worsening of preoperative symptoms. Your physician can help you determine if LINX® is right for you. Patient results may vary. For full patient information visit www.linxforlife.com or www.ethicon.com.