GERD:  Putting Out the Fire

It starts as a feeling of discomfort in your upper abdomen. Next the sensation of increasing pressure followed by that awful burning that increases in intensity until you feel as though you are on fire.  Just when you think it can’t get any worse, an imaginary dam breaks and that terrible fireball bursts from your abdomen through your chest and up into your throat.  Many people think they are having a heart attack.

If this sounds all too familiar to you, you may be one of the 47 million Americans who suffer from GERD – gastroesophagel reflux disease.  This is a condition caused by the backwash of acidic stomach contents into the lower esophagus (the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach).  There is a physiologic sphincter or valve at the point where the esophagus enters the stomach which normally prevents this reflux from occurring but in some people this valve becomes incompetent and reflux occurs.

There are many possible explanations for its cause:

• The development of a hiatus hernia secondary to abdominal obesity
• Viral infection affecting the smooth muscles in the sphincter
• Blood pressure drugs which cause smooth muscle relaxation
• Erectile dysfunction drugs (Viagra) which also relax smooth muscle

To name a few…

Over the years, many remedies have been employed. Each generation seems to have developed their own approach.

I remember my own dear grandma (the one who used to give me sulphur and molasses as a spring tonic) mixing a spoonful a baking soda in a glass of water, holding her nose, and pouring it down!  My mother used Tums.  Those of us privileged to live in the pharmacologic generation started out with antacids (Maalox, Gelusil), moved on to H2 blockers, and finally to the ultimate – proton pump inhibitors (Prilosec, Nexium).

Although these medicines work for many people, there is a down side. These drugs block the final step in acid production by the parietal cells in the stomach.  Some acid is needed for digestion of food.  It is the acidic nature of the stomach contents that triggers gastric emptying and digestive enzymes so if the acid level is too low, gastric emptying is slowed down.  Low gastric acid encourages the proliferation of unfriendly gastrointestinal bacteria and fungus. It also decreases the absorption of Vitamin B 12 and calcium.  People on proton pump inhibitors have a greater incidence of bone fractures.

Do not despair for there is good news on the horizon!  A new natural, evidence – based compound called Protexid has become available.  This is a proprietary blend of vitamins and amino acids designed to alleviate the symptoms of GERD.  In a double blind study, published in a national medical journal, comparing Protexid and Prilosec over a forty day period, 100% of patients taking Protexid were relieved of their symptoms, versus 67% of those taking Prilosec.

For assistance or additional information, call The Metabolic Institute at 509-747-7066.