GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is no fun. Yet, it’s one of those common ailments in life that we must try to treat for better health.
Chronic heartburn and acid regurgitation (or reflux) are two of the most well-known symptoms of GERD, but there are several other lesser-known symptoms as well. In addition, some people with GERD don’t have symptoms and may not realize they have the condition unless complications, such as Barrett’s esophagus, result.
According to the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, less common symptoms of GERD include: belching, difficulty or pain when swallowing, waterbrash (sudden excess of saliva), dysphagia (the …read more

Patients often continue to take proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like Nexium, Aciphex, Prilosec and Prevacid for years. PPIs reduce acid by blocking the enzyme in the stomach that produces acid.
They’re prescribed for GERD (reflux disease), ulcers and other conditions. GERD is often triggered by consuming chocolate, coffee, alcohol or spicy foods.

Is it really a good idea to continue taking PPIs on a long-term basis? Researchers explored that question recently in a study published in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA).
Researchers noted that the prevalence of long-term treatment with PPIs is rising. In their PPI study, researchers …read more

According to a new study published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry, a particular enzyme called NOX5-S is significantly higher in cancer cells that have been exposed to acid, leading to the overproduction of hydrogen peroxide: a possible explanation for how acid reflux may lead to cancer of the esophagus.
For the first time, researchers led by senior author Weibiao Cao (a researcher at Rhode Island Hospital and an assistant professor of medicine and surgery at Brown Medical School) have outlined the signaling pathway from cells damaged by acid, to the progression of esophageal cancer.
The researchers believe that this very same …read more