What is Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD)?

                                     

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease is a backflow of acid from the stomach into the food pipe(esophagus).Although” heart burn” is often used to describe a variety of digestive problems,  it is most often secondary to gastroesophageal reflux disease.

What causes GERD?

When you eat, food travels from your mouth to your stomach through a tube called esophagus. At the lower end of the esophagus is a small ring of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter(LES).The LES acts like a one way valve, allowing food to pass into the stomach. Normally the LES closes immediately after swallowing to prevent back-up of stomach juices, which have high acid content, into the esophagus. GERD occurs when LES does not function properly allowing acid to flow back and burn the lower esophagus. This irritates and inflames the esophagus, causing heartburn and eventually may damage the esophagus.

Who are at risk for  GERD?

GERD can afflict any person regardless of age, gender, socioeconomic status. People above 40 years, however, are greater risk of acquiring the disease.

Some people are born with a naturally weak LES. Others, however, fatty and spicy foods, smoking, drinking alcohol, vigorous exercises or change in the body position (bending over or lying down) may cause the LES to relax, causing reflux.

What are the symptoms of GERD?

•                  Heart burn (uncomfortable, rising, burning sensation behind the breast bone)
    ·         Regurgitation of gastric acid or sour contents into the mou
•                    Vomiting.                                             
•                   Chest pain- This can mimic heart attack
    ·           Difficult or painful swallowing
   ·          Bloating sensation in the abdomen

What are the complications of GERD?

When GERD is not treated, serious complications can occur such as

• Esophageal stricture-Narrowing or obstruction of the esophagus
• Barrett’s esophagus- This is premalignant change in the esophagus caused due to chronic recurrent reflux. This can lead to cancer of the esophagus in future.

Symptoms suggesting that serious damage may have already occurred include

•    Dysphagia:Difficulty in swallowing or a feeling that food is trapped behind the breast bone
•   Choking: Sensation of acid refluxed into the windpipe causing shortness of breath,coughing   or  hoarseness of voice.
•  Bleeding: Vomiting blood or passing black tarry stools
• Weight loss

How to diagnose GERD?

We take a detailed history of the patient’s symptoms and over the counter medications he has taken .If the history and our findings indicate GERD we perform the following tests to confirm GERD

• Upper GI Endoscopy:   This helps us to know the degree of damage caused by acid reflux to the lower esophagus, laxity of the LES, associated any changes in the esophageal mucosa(Barrett’s esophagus) , presence of any stricture in the lower esophagus or associated hiatus hernia.

• Esophageal manometry:·  This helps to rule out any associated Esophageal motility             disorder
• 24 hour PH monitoring: This helps to confirm the diagnosis of GERD in certain patients.

What is hiatus hernia?

This is the herniation of Gastroesophageal junction or upper part of the stomach into the thorax.

What are the treatment options available for GERD?

GERD is generally treated in 3 progressive steps

1) Drug Therapy:

 Proton pump inhibitors (PPI’S) neutralize the stomach acids and reduce the amount of stomach acid produced. Antacids also may be used for symptomatic relief. In patients with persistent symptoms , particularly aggravated at night , H2 Blockers such as Ranitidine may need to be added.

 How frequently should I take these medicines?

Once the diagnosis of GERD is established we prescribe PPI’S to be taken  twice daily and then taper it once a day , depending on severity of symptoms and endoscopic findings of severity of damage to the lower esophagus

How long should I take these medicines?

     Normally we give a course of proton pump inhibitors to be taken for 6 -12 weeks. Most patients get relieved of their symptoms with these medications and life style modifications.

   2)  Life style changes:

       These are modifications made in food and behaviours that trigger heart burn.

     This is treating GERD through self care.

      Following these simple guidelines may take care of the problem

   ·       Watch what you  eat:

   Triggers include fatty or fried foods, citrus fruits or juices, tomato sauces, spicy foods, chocolate, coffee,  peppermint , carbonated beverages and alcohol

    

   ·  Don’t gorge:

     Big meals overfills the stomach and an overstretched  stomach can increase pressure on the muscle that’s meant to keep stomach acid out of esophagus.Try 4 or 5 small snack-like meals instead of 3 large ones

   
                ·         Loose Weight:

      Extra pounds increase pressure on the stomach and forces the acid up into the esophagus. Start weight loss by increasing (low acid/non citrus) fruit, vegetables and high fiber foods in your diet. Add regular exercise.

·         Don’t Smoke:

      Tobacco inhibits saliva,the body major buffer against damage to the esophagus.Tobacco also stimulate acid production and relaxes the muscle between theesophagus and stomach,permitting acid reflux.

·         Don’t snack at bed time:

      Allow enough time for your stomach to empty before you lie down.It’s better to eat atleast 2-3 hours before bedtime

·         Raise the head of your bed:

      Gravity helps to keep acid in the stomach.Lying flat in bed makes it easier for the gastric acid to back up into the esophagus. Raising head end of your head six to eight inches can help to reduce the acid reflux.

·         Watch your posture:

      Avoid bending from waist or stooping just after meals.Eat your meals while sitting on an upright chair rather than slumped in front of the television.

       What are the indications for Surgery?

     The diagnosis of GERD and its cause must be clearly established before considering surgical approach. Unfortunately the recommended lifestyle modifications are usually ignored and although most patients with GERD can be managed adequately with proton pump inhibitors, many eventually require escalating doses over time, relapse quickly when medicines are stopped or desire to be free of medications and their significant expense. There is also a small group of patients who experience intolerable side effects of proton pump inhibitors, such as headache or diarrhoea.It is this group of patients who benefit greatly from  Anti reflux Surgery.In addition to Objective evidence of GERD the following are the indications for Surgery

      How this surgery performed?

     

    Antireflux surgery (commonly reffered to as Nissen’s Fundoplication) involves reinforcing the “valve” between the esophagus and the stomach by wrapping the upper portion of the stomach around the lowest portion of the esophagus-Much the way a bun wraps around a hot dog. About 4 cms of the intrathoracic esophagus is mobilized intraabdominally  and a tension free wrap of 1.5-2 cms of the fundus of the stomach is created at the lower end of the esophagus. We routinely perform this surgery by laparoscopic approach in which 5 tiny cuts are made over the abdominal wall to accomplish this procedure.

     How many days should I stay in the hospital? 

    Since this procedure is performed laparoscopically, there is less post operative pain, shorter hospital stay and faster return to work. Most of the patients get admitted the evening before or the morning of surgery and are discharged within a day or two following surgery.

  

     What are the complications of this surgery?

       As with any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with this surgery .

      Surgery is safe in expert hands and in hospitals with a good infrastructure and equipment.

      Some patients develop temporary difficulty swallowing immediately after the operation. This usually resolves 2-4 weeks after the surgery. Some patients report stomach bloating. Though rare in experienced hands, some patients may require a procedure to stretch the esophagus (endoscopic dilatation) or a re-operation for a failed wrap .

     What are the precautions to be followed after surgery?

     We will work with you to create a personalized treatment plan which will be given to you during your discharge from the hospital.

     Usually you should be on a liquid diet for a week following surgery in order to give time for the swelling or edema  near the wrap site to resolve.

•      Avoid carbonated  beverages and smoking
•      Chew your food slowly and thoroughly
•      Have small portions of meals
•      Do not sleep 2-3 hours after meals.

     

    When should I consult my surgeon following surgery?

     

    You will be advised to consult in the clinic 7 days following surgery. You are advised to report immediately in case of persistant fever, abdominal pain, vomiting or you are unable to eat or drink liquids.

Thyroid uncovered

The month of January is the Thyroid awareness month. As a specialist treating people with thyroid illness, I hope to give an overview of the thyroid gland and its illnesses through this blog.

Thyroid gland is a small but a very hardworking gland which is tucked away, below the adam’s apple in front of our neck. I would describe it as the body’s accelerator which tells your body how fast it should work. Hence even minor changes in its function can affect one’s health in various ways.

I am certain that anyone reading this blog, know someone having a thyroid illness. Did you know that nearly 1 in 10 people in India have a thyroid illness? It makes one wonder why has this condition become so common. My patients always question me whether is it “too much cabbage in their diet” or “too little salt causing iodine deficieny” leading to thyroid illness. The answer is neither but the exact reason for this surge in thyroid illness is not entirely certain. We do know that most thyroid problems are autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune disease is an illness caused by malfunction of our body’s immunity, (which I would describe as our body’s police force) leading to our own glands being attacked and destroyed by our immune system. There are many theories to reason the rise in thyroid illness. Chemicals and toxins in the environment, genetics (family history), Radiation exposure and viral infections are all thought to be contributing factors. Stress is also considered a factor. In fact a very interesting find, was that thyroid disorders had doubled over a period of 5yrs after a civil war in the country, Czechoslovakia which one could only attribute to stress. As the cause of thyroid illness is not certain, there is little one can do to prevent the condition apart from leading a stress free life. Hence your mantra should be “Don’t Worry be Happy.”

How could one know if they have a thyroid illness? Symptoms of thyroid illness is variable and depends on age, gender and the severity of thyroid illness. Thyroid illness is most common in middle aged women though it can occur in men too and at all ages. I see patients presenting to me with weight problems, constipation or diarrhoea, problems with periods, unable to conceive, mood changes, skin and hair problems, high cholesterol levels or with a swelling in their neck. I also see many getting to know about their thyroid problem on a routine blood test such as done for insurance purpose or a general health check. As symptoms for thyroid disease are not very specific, patients often go to other specialists. I recently had a patient go up to the Psychiatrist with depression but later found to have an under-active thyroid and there was another patient going the cardiologist with a fast heart beat and after several tests was found to have a overactive thyroid. Thyroid illness is diagnosed with a blood test which is now readily available in most labs. The test can be take anytime of the day and can be done before or after food. Some thyroid conditions need special scans such ultrasound or technetium scans for more accurate diagnosis. In case of thyroid swelling we often use fine-needle aspiration (FNAC) test to diagnose the nature of thyroid swelling.

Thyroid disorders are usually long term illness and may need lifelong treatment. Most conditions can be treated with tablets which have minimal or no side effects. It may take a few days to a few weeks and some blood tests to get the dosage right. Some conditions need radioiodine, a special kind of x-ray treatment and in a few, surgery. There are several patients who opt for alternative therapies such as ayurveda and homeopathy and my only recommendation is to ensure that the doctor you are seeing is a qualified professional. People with thyroid disorders can lead a normal life without any long term health problems as long as they are taking their tablets regularly and get regular reviews with the doctor which is often just once a year.

You may have never given your Thyroid gland a thought and now you may just be wondering if you have a thyroid problem or may have further queries. Just book yourself an appointment with an Endocrinologist and get a simple blood test to have your thyroid gland checked.