As a physician, I spend much of my day helping people navigate serious illnesses.
But even outside of cancer, some conditions can quietly — but powerfully — erode the quality of life.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of them.
I’ve had countless conversations with patients who struggle with it — some who downplay the impact until it starts interrupting their sleep, their meals, and even their voices.
That’s why I paid attention when comedian Kenan Thompson opened up about his battle with GERD.
Kenan and SNL
For most of us, Kenan is known for his effortless humor and long-running role on Saturday Night Live.
But behind the scenes, he’s been wrestling with a chronic condition that doesn’t exactly pair well with live performance.
GERD, which occurs when stomach acid repeatedly flows backward into the esophagus, has the power to sap your energy, inflame your throat, and leave you hoarse when your voice matters most.
He recently shared this:
“When it’s at its worst, it definitely can cause me to be hoarse a lot faster than I’d expect.”
He even uses singing to warm up before a show — his barometer of vocal health.
And when the reflux flares up, he knows he’s in trouble.
Kenan’s Story
Behind the scenes, the longtime SNL cast member quietly dealt with a health issue that was anything but funny.
For nearly two years, Thompson struggled with persistent symptoms that gradually took a toll on his voice, his sleep, and his well-being.
He shared his symptoms in a recent interview:
“I started noticing that I was losing my voice more quickly during the show. It was frustrating — I’d be hoarse faster than expected, and my nights were restless. I’d be burping up acid, hiccuping through the night.”
At first, he brushed it off.
A little discomfort here, a rough night there — it didn’t seem like something worth fussing over.
“I kept thinking, I’ll get through it. It’ll pass,” Thompson said. “But over time, it just kept adding up.”
Symptoms Worsened
He tried to manage the problem on his own.
Dietary tweaks, a few over-the-counter medications, temporary adjustments.
It helped — for a while.
“Eventually, none of it worked anymore. That’s when I knew it was serious. But I still didn’t talk to anyone about it. I wasn’t embarrassed exactly — I just didn’t know if it was worth bringing to a doctor.”
It wasn’t until early last year, when the symptoms escalated, that he finally made an appointment.
The diagnosis?
GERD — gastroesophageal reflux disease — a condition where stomach acid frequently flows backward into the esophagus, often causing heartburn, sore throats, and disrupted sleep.
For Thompson, the condition had slowly chipped away at his voice, energy, and peace of mind.
And like many people dealing with chronic reflux, he endured it quietly, not realizing just how much it was affecting him until it became impossible to ignore.
Why?
Pizza?
Check.
Sugar-sweetened soda?
Yep.
As his symptoms worsened early last year, he finally sought medical help.
Doctors diagnosed GERD, a common condition in which stomach acid repeatedly flows back into the esophagus, causing irritation and discomfort.
My Clinical Experience
I hear versions of this story all the time in the clinic.
GERD isn’t just heartburn.
It’s the acid that creeps in at night and steals your sleep.
It’s the chronic cough that won’t go away, the sore throat you didn’t see coming, the constant sensation that something’s stuck just behind your breastbone.
And it’s frustrating.
For Kenan, years of trying different treatments led only to temporary relief. “I just got tired of it,” he admitted.
Over-the-counter meds became a short-term bandage — never a real fix.
Lifestyle and GERD
Lifestyle modification is often a good starting point for dealing with GERD.
I often talk with my patients about non-pharmaceutical strategies that can make a real difference:
- Eating smaller meals
- Avoiding food right before bed,
- Elevating the head of the bed to keep acid from creeping upward at night
- Cutting back on trigger foods—think caffeine, alcohol, spicy dishes, and even chocolate.
For some, it’s also about managing stress.
And yes, for others, medications are still part of the equation.
But the first step is recognizing that GERD is more than just an occasional annoyance — it’s a condition that can wear you down, slowly and relentlessly.
Whether you’re a comedian relying on your voice or a patient trying to rest at night, it deserves attention and real solutions.
Kenan’s story isn’t just about reflux. It’s a reminder that health is no laughing matter — even for someone whose job is to make us smile.
Did you know that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects up to 30 percent of adults in Western populations and is increasing in prevalence?
GERD can cause pain and increase your risk of developing cancer of the lower esophagus, so if you have concerning symptoms, please see your primary care provider.
A Happy Ending
As for Kenan, after he started taking Voquezna, he felt immediate relief.
The comedian is now partnering with Voquenza’s GERD IS NO JOKE campaign to raise awareness about GERD. In the campaign, he acts as a chef on the “Kick Some Acid Cooking Show.”
And that pizza?
He doesn’t completely avoid his favorite foods, offering this observation:
“There’s balance in it all. I still eat pizza. I just don’t have the same kind of issues because I’m not overdoing it.”
