Do we need yet another reason to lose weight? A new study reveals that obesity is linked to GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease. The appearance of GERD has increased steadily over the last few years, just like obesity. Now, almost “1 in 5 people have the disease.”

This research makes sense when you consider that the same types of eating contribute to obesity and GERD both. Here’s the kicker, however. Even if you lose weight, it won’t help GERD unless you’re in the earliest stages of the disease. The only true prevention is to not …read more

Those of us familiar with that burning sensation that just won’t quit know how hard it is to sleep through an attack of acid reflux. And researchers have determined, unsurprisingly, I might add, that nighttime reflux can have a negative impact on sleep.
In a recent national survey, researchers assessed the prevalence of sleep impairment among people with [gastroesophageal reflux disease] GERD and people without GERD based on response to an Internet survey of a general population of U.S. adults. Using a validated GERD screening tool, 701 respondents were identified with GERD and the remaining were controls. Bonnie Dean, MPH, PhD, …read more