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.

Thompson admitted:

“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.”

The post Saturday Night Live’s Kenan Thompson’s Health Wake-Up Call appeared first on Medika Life.

DO YOU GET HEARTBURN? Stomach contents heading back into the esophagus (gastroesophageal reflux) are not unexpected. For many, these episodes are fleeting and do not cause symptoms or injury to the esophagus.

Gastroesophageal reflux becomes a problem when it causes significant damage to the esophagus or symptoms.

Today we look at the physiology of gastroesophageal reflux, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and potential non-medical interventions for management.

We’ll end with the observation that those who sleep on their left side have less potentially harmful stomach acid than others.

What is reflux (GERD)?

At your stomach’s entrance is a functional valve, a muscle ring known as the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Usually, the LES closes after food passes through it.

If the sphincter does not entirely close (or it opens too frequently), stomach acid can move backward into your esophagus. With this retrograde acid flow, one can experience symptoms such as burning chest discomfort or heartburn.

WebMD offers that if acid reflux symptoms happen more than twice per week, you may have acid reflux disease, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

If your symptoms of acid reflux occur more than twice weekly, you may have gastroesophageal (acid) reflux disease.

Reflux: Common risk factors

A common cause of acid reflux is a hiatal hernia. This condition happens when the upper stomach and the lower esophageal sphincter slip above the diaphragm (the muscle separating your stomach from the chest). If you have a hiatal hernia, acid can more easily move up into your esophagus, causing acid reflux disease.

Other risk factors for acid reflux disease include:

• Being overweight or obese
• Consuming large meals or lying down right after eating
• Eating certain foods, for example, such as spicy or fatty foods. Some get heartburn from citrus, tomato, mint, garlic, or onions.
• Drinking beverages such as alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee, or tea
• Smoking
• Being pregnant
• Taking certain medicines (aspirin, ibuprofen, certain muscle relaxers, and some blood pressure medicines are examples)

Reflux (GERD): Symptoms

The Mayo Clinic (USA) explains that common symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) include:

• Chest pain
• Heartburn (a burning sensation in your chest, typically after eating). Heartburn can be worse at night.
• Swallowing difficulty
• Regurgitation of food or sour liquid
• Lump in your throat sensation

This burning can occur anytime but is often worse after eating. For many, heartburn gets worse when they recline or lie in bed, making getting good sleep a challenge.

The Mayo Clinic offers that you should seek immediate medical care if you have chest pain (especially if you also have shortness of breath or jaw or arm pain). These may be symptoms of a heart attack.

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have severe or frequent GERD symptoms. Also, check-in with your healthcare provider if you use over-the-counter medications for heartburn more than twice weekly.

The perils of GERD

Did you know that more than 75 percent of individuals with asthma have GERD? Those with asthma are twice as likely to have GERD as those without the condition.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease may worsen asthma symptoms, and asthma drugs can worsen GERD. But treating GERD often helps to relieve asthma symptoms. The mechanism of action is not clear.

GERD (chronic acid reflux) can be dangerous or even life-threatening. It’s not the GERD per see that is the issue; instead, chronic GERD can promote:

• Esophagus inflammation (esophagitis). Stomach acid can irritate and inflame the esophagus lining, culminating in heartburn, chest pain, bleeding, or challenges swallowing.
• Barrett’s esophagus. About ten percent of those with chronic GERD develop this condition. Here, the long-term damage from acid hitting the esophagus lining can cause cells to be abnormal; when this occurs, we call it Barrett’s esophagus, a risk factor for esophagus cancer.
• Esophagus cancer. Adenocarcinoma is a cancer type that typically develops in the lower esophagus. Squamous cell carcinoma more commonly affects the middle and upper esophagus.
• Strictures. The damaged esophagus sometimes becomes scarred, resulting in narrowing of the structure. Strictures can make drinking or eating challenging.

GERD and sleep position

Medicines can help with GERD. Many can benefit from lifestyle interventions. For example, try sleeping on your left side. This position appears to be the best sleeping one for people with GERD, as it reduces reflux episodes. On the other hand, sleeping on your back can make reflux more likely.

An old-school trick is to raise the head of the bed. Propping it up (not just putting more pillows under your head) by at least six inches may reduce your reflux when you are lying down.

You can find some more intense interventions for GERD here:Treatment for GER & GERD | NIDDKYour doctor may recommend that you make lifestyle changes and take medicines to manage symptoms of gastroesophageal…www.niddk.nih.gov.

GERD — my take

If you have symptoms of GERD, please discuss them with a healthcare provider. Having a good weight can help us dodge acid reflux. In addition, don’t eat overly large meals or lie down immediately after eating.

Be careful with spicy or fatty foods, citrus, tomato, garlic, mint, and onions. I try to avoid peppermint in the evening but have no trouble with it during other times of the day.

I don’t drink alcohol but do consume e risk-increasing coffee and tea. I am sure you are not surprised that I don’t smoke. Finally, be careful with the medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen, certain muscle relaxers, and some blood pressure medicines.

The post Heading Off Heartburn appeared first on Medika Life.

A burning sensation that starts in the chest and expands. Or maybe it’s a clenched fist in the stomach or a mysterious lump that cannot be swallowed. Perhaps it’s an unusual urge to cough.

Though the symptoms may vary, the cause is the same.

No shortage of stomach acid

Acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), sour stomach, or heartburn. They all describe the same condition: gastric acid hypersecretion, or too much stomach acid.

Overproduction of stomach acid can lead to a host of problems. An ulcer can occur when acid destroys the stomach’s protective layer of mucus. This leaves the inner lining vulnerable to damage. Ulcers may also form in the small intestine.

Ulcers can also be caused by a bacterial infection of H. pylori. In this case, medical intervention is essential as H. pylori can only be treated with a course of antibiotics.

GERD is the word

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is what gives us those classic heartburn symptoms.

When gastric acid flows the wrong way back up into the esophagus, it is called reflux. Normally a gateway, called the esophageal sphincter, prevents this backflow. However, multiple factors can cause the esophageal sphincter to relax, allowing acidic contents in the stomach to escape.

These include:

• Increased age
• Pregnancy
• Smoking
• Medications like NSAIDs, heart medications, and anti-anxiety medications
• Diet
• Certain types of hernia
• Obesity

The result is pain, burning, discomfort, and if left untreated, inflammation, and eventual build-up of scar tissue. Scarring can cause the tube-like esophagus to narrow, making it difficult to swallow food. This is known as esophageal stricture, and treatment may require surgical placement of a stent.

These long term complications are why it is imperative not to let chronic heartburn go untreated.

Mandatory Disclaimer

Before undertaking any self-treatment with over-the-counter medications, have a discussion with a doctor or pharmacist. Occasionally the symptoms of heartburn can be similar to a more serious cardiac issue. This is especially true for women, who may not always display the classic signs of a heart attack.

Lifestyle modifications- unsexy advice

As a pharmacist, my first recommendation is non-pharmacological intervention. No one wants to hear it, but losing weight and quitting smoking will help. So will resisting the urge to sleep on the couch after a heavy meal. Avoiding trigger foods is also sage advice.

For me, heartburn started in my 30s. Eating fried foods would trigger my symptoms without fail. While fatty foods are a common no-no, others include:

• Protein-rich meals
• Spicy foods
• Alcohol
• Chocolate
• Acidic foods like citrus, grapes, pineapples, and tomatoes
• Peppermint
• Caffeine

I know. All the things that make life worth living.

Remember, not all of these foods will be triggers for everyone. My advice is to try an elimination diet. Take away foods that are believed to cause the pain and add them back one at a time. Soon you will have your culprit.

Stress is another cause. So many of our physical problems stem from mental ones.

I would always feel heartburn take hold after I had been at work for about an hour. I could go on about relaxation techniques — taking deep, cleansing breaths, and allowing for frequent breaks. But honestly, the only thing that helped me was not eating before going in to work.

So you’ve tried all these tips and still have heartburn? Then it’s time for a chat with your doctor or pharmacist.

Antacids

For mild, occasional heartburn, the first-line treatment consists of antacids. Maalox, Mylanta, and Tums are all examples.

Maalox and Mylanta are twins; a combination of aluminum and magnesium that works quickly to neutralize the acid in the stomach. Additionally, these thick liquids coat the stomach walls, providing a temporary protective layer.

Tums, a chewable tablet, contains calcium carbonate, another fast-acting acid neutralizer.

Antacids are all similar in efficacy. Let such factors as liquid versus chewable or price be your guide.

You may see a product called simethicone added to antacids. This agent reduces gas. It will not directly help manage heartburn symptoms. However, if you feel bloated or experience lower abdominal pain, simethicone could be useful.

Aside from icky taste, there are no major side effects for antacids.

It is a good idea to space antacids apart from other medications by at least 2 hours. The compounds in them can bind with other drugs, making them difficult for the body to absorb. This is especially important with antibiotics and medicine used to treat thyroid conditions and bone loss.

Use caution in individuals with kidney disease as the buildup of magnesium, aluminum, and calcium in the body is a potential problem.

Remember, antacids are only for short term use — 1 to 2 weeks. If they are not helping, consider adding or switching to an H2 blocker.

H2 Receptor Blockers

Also known as H2 receptor antagonists, these medications are a good choice for heartburn as they help to treat the cause. Although their onset of action is slower than antacids, about 1 hour, their duration lasts longer.

H2s work by blocking histamine receptors in the stomach. This blocking, or antagonism, prevents the signal that leads to the production of gastric acid.

Four brands are currently available over-the-counter (OTC):

• Axid (nizatidine)
• Zantac (ranitidine)
• Pepcid (famotidine)
• Tagamet (cimetidine)

I feel most comfortable recommending Pepcid due to its long history of use and the near absence of drug interactions.

Tagamet, as the first on the market, has the most adverse effects. Tagamet also affects liver enzymes more than the others and therefore displays more serious drug-drug interactions.

Zantac, normally a great choice,has been temporarily recalled for NDMA contamination — a possible carcinogen.

Axid was the last player to enter the H2 blocker arena, and as such, never gained as much popularity.

Side effects of H2 blockers are mild and include headache, nausea, and vomiting.

They are generally well-tolerated, but individuals with poor kidney function should avoid using H2 blockers long term. When used sparingly, the dose should be cut in half.

Limit self-treatment with H2 blockers to no more than 2 weeks without consulting a doctor. This is especially important as longer treatment appears to result in tolerance to the drugs with a resulting decreased efficacy.

Proton Pump Inhibitors

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are gaining in popularity since a few made the switch from prescription (RX) to OTC a few years ago.

This class of drug displays the most benefit in reducing damage caused by the overproduction of acid. PPIs work by shutting down the pumps that produce gastric acid, giving the stomach a chance to heal.

The success of Prilosec (omeprazole) launched a series of competing “me too” drugs.

Other PPIs that made the RX to OTC switch include Nexium (esomeprazole) and Prevacid (lansoprazole).

In general, there are no practical differences between these three drugs. Honestly, pick whichever one appeals to the pocketbook.

Expect that PPIs will take a few days to start working. It may be beneficial to continue using antacids or H2 blockers until the full effects are felt.

PPI media hype: sifting truth from fiction

There have been many media reports about the dangers of PPIs. Many of these are unwarranted as this class of drugs is generally recognized as safe. Realistically, the most common side effects are headache, rash, and diarrhea.

However, when used long-term, PPIs do come with a few caveats.

Certain populations using PPIs, like the elderly or immunocompromised, appear to have an increased risk of infection. Clostridium difficile, a particularly nasty bug that causes severe diarrhea, and pneumonia are of greatest concern.

The theory is the acidic environment in our stomach normally suppresses bacterial overgrowth. If we neutralize this defense, bacteria can flourish.

Incidentally, there may be a correlation between PPI use and coronavirus. Early data suggests a link between low amounts of stomach acid and the proliferation of the coronavirus — leading to more positive tests. However, further research is needed.

Increasing the pH of the stomach may also lead to absorption problems. Calcium, magnesium, and vitamin B-12 are a few of the affected essential vitamins and minerals. Low calcium is of special concern to an elderly population already at increased risk of bone loss, or osteoporosis.

Consider talking to your doctor or pharmacist about supplementation.

It is also recommended not to abruptly quit PPI use after long-term therapy. Slowly tapering off the drug avoids the rebound effect of increased acid production.

Drug interactions with PPIs mainly result because of competition for the liver enzymes that aid in metabolism. However, they can also be a result of the increased pH in the stomach. Many drugs need an acidic environment to be activated.

Major interactions between PPIs exist with:

• Antiretrovirals (HIV medications)
• Anti-fungals
• Anti-depressants
• Chemotherapy agents
• Anti-seizure medications
• Plavix (clopidogrel) — an important antiplatelet drug used to prevent heart attack or stroke

Because of the potential for serious long term effects and severe drug interactions, I recommend talking to your doctor first before initiating PPI self-therapy.

Heartburn in pregnancy

Heartburn is a common complication in pregnancy, with the majority of symptoms occurring in the last trimester.

Studies evaluating a drug’s safety profile in human pregnancies are scarce. Usually, we rely on animal studies when making recommendations. Plus, the benefits to risk ratio must be considered.

The safest solutions for pregnant women with heartburn are the lifestyle modifications discussed earlier. Eat smaller, more frequent meals, avoid trigger foods, and elevate the head of the bed with pillows to avoid lying flat. Chewing gum to release saliva may also help promote digestion.

Consider occasional treatment of heartburn in pregnancy with a calcium-containing antacid like Tums first. Magnesium also seems to be safe in low doses. However, a few studies have agreed that limiting the amount of aluminum may be prudent.

H2 blockers have also been safely used, but it is recommended to be under a doctor’s guidance. Although they appear safe in the first trimester, PPIs should only be used under doctor supervision.

Summary

Although it seems a minor inconvenience, heartburn can lead to more serious problems. It should never be ignored.

Avoid or limit those trigger foods, and make appropriate lifestyle changes when possible.

Consider treating the occasional mild case of heartburn with an antacid. Add an H2 blocker, like Pepcid, if no relief.

If no comfort is felt from either agent, it is reasonable to consult with a doctor or pharmacist before starting a PPI. Although they work best, they also have the most potential long term effects and drug interactions. Also, a checkup can help rule out other causes.

Never ignore warning signs of a more serious condition such as:

• Blood in the stool
• Unexplained weight loss
• Food getting stuck in the throat

With a few changes, heartburn does not have to be a daily event. That fire in the stomach can be extinguished.

The post A Definitive Guide to Heartburn and Alleviating the Symptoms appeared first on Medika Life.

Are people with Barrett’s esophagus more likely to develop cancer?

People with Barrett’s esophagus are more likely to develop a rare type of cancer called esophageal adenocarcinoma.

The risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma in people with Barrett’s esophagus is about 0.5 percent per year. Typically, before this cancer develops, precancerous cells appear in the Barrett’s tissue. Doctors call this condition dysplasia and classify the dysplasia as low grade or high grade.

You may have Barrett’s esophagus for many years before cancer develops.

How common is Barrett’s esophagus?

Experts are not sure how common Barrett’s esophagus is. Researchers estimate that it affects 1.6 to 6.8 percent of people.

Who is more likely to develop Barrett’s esophagus?

Men develop Barrett’s esophagus twice as often as women, and Caucasian men develop this condition more often than men of other races. The average age at diagnosis is 55. Barrett’s esophagus is uncommon in children

What are the symptoms of Barrett’s esophagus?

While Barrett’s esophagus itself doesn’t cause symptoms, many people with Barrett’s esophagus have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which does cause symptoms.

What causes Barrett’s esophagus?

Experts don’t know the exact cause of Barrett’s esophagus. However, some factors can increase or decrease your chance of developing Barrett’s esophagus.

What factors increase a person’s chances of developing Barrett’s esophagus?

Having GERD increases your chances of developing Barrett’s esophagus. GERD is a more serious, chronic form of gastroesophageal reflux, a condition in which stomach contents flow back up into your esophagus. Refluxed stomach acid that touches the lining of your esophagus can cause heartburn and damage the cells in your esophagus.

Between 10 and 15 percent of people with GERD develop Barrett’s esophagus.

Obesity—specifically high levels of belly fat—and smoking also increase your chances of developing Barrett’s esophagus. Some studies suggest that your genetics, or inherited genes, may play a role in whether or not you develop Barrett’s esophagus.

What factors decrease a person’s chances of developing Barrett’s esophagus?

Having a Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection may decrease your chances of developing Barrett’s esophagus. Doctors are not sure how H. pylori protects against Barrett’s esophagus. While the bacteria damage your stomach and the tissue in your duodenum, some researchers believe the bacteria make your stomach contents less damaging to your esophagus if you have GERD.

Researchers have found that other factors may decrease the chance of developing Barrett’s esophagus, including

• frequent use of aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and certain vitamins

Diagnosis

How do doctors diagnose Barrett’s esophagus?

Doctors diagnose Barrett’s esophagus with an upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy and a biopsy. Doctors may diagnose Barrett’s esophagus while performing tests to find the cause of a patient’s gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms.

Medical history

Your doctor will ask you to provide your medical history. Your doctor may recommend testing if you have multiple factors that increase your chances of developing Barrett’s esophagus.

Upper GI endoscopy and biopsy

In an upper GI endoscopy, a gastroenterologist, surgeon, or other trained health care provider uses an endoscope to see inside your upper GI tract, most often while you receive light sedation. The doctor carefully feeds the endoscope down your esophagus and into your stomach and duodenum. The procedure may show changes in the lining of your esophagus.

The doctor performs a biopsy with the endoscope by taking a small piece of tissue from the lining of your esophagus. You won’t feel the biopsy. A pathologist examines the tissue in a lab to determine whether Barrett’s esophagus cells are present. A pathologist who has expertise in diagnosing Barrett’s esophagus may need to confirm the results.

Barrett’s esophagus can be difficult to diagnose because this condition does not affect all the tissue in your esophagus. The doctor takes biopsy samples from at least eight different areas of the lining of your esophagus.

Who should be screened for Barrett’s esophagus?

Your doctor may recommend screening for Barrett’s esophagus if you are a man with chronic—lasting more than 5 years—and/or frequent—happening weekly or more—symptoms of GERD and two or more risk factors for Barrett’s esophagus. These risk factors include

• being age 50 and older
• being Caucasian
• having high levels of belly fat
• being a smoker or having smoked in the past
• having a family history of Barrett’s esophagus or esophageal adenocarcinoma

Treatment

How do doctors treat Barrett’s esophagus?

Your doctor will talk about the best treatment options for you based on your overall health, whether you have dysplasia, and its severity. Treatment options include medicines for GERD, endoscopic ablative therapies, endoscopic mucosal resection, and surgery.

Periodic surveillance endoscopy

Your doctor may use upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with a biopsy periodically to watch for signs of cancer development. Doctors call this approach surveillance.

Experts aren’t sure how often doctors should perform surveillance endoscopies. Talk with your doctor about what level of surveillance is best for you. Your doctor may recommend endoscopies more frequently if you have high-grade dysplasia rather than low-grade or no dysplasia.

Medicines

If you have Barrett’s esophagus and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), your doctor will treat you with acid-suppressing medicines called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). These medicines can prevent further damage to your esophagus and, in some cases, heal existing damage.

PPIs include

• omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid)
• lansoprazole (Prevacid)
• pantoprazole (Protonix)
• rabeprazole (AcipHex)
• esomeprazole (Nexium)
• dexlansoprazole (Dexilant)

All of these medicines are available by prescription. Omeprazole and lansoprazole are also available in over-the-counter strength.

Your doctor may consider anti-reflux surgery if you have GERD symptoms and don’t respond to medicines. However, research has not shown that medicines or surgery for GERD and Barrett’s esophagus lower your chances of developing dysplasia or esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Endoscopic ablative therapies

Endoscopic ablative therapies use different techniques to destroy the dysplasia in your esophagus. After the therapies, your body should begin making normal esophageal cells.

A doctor, usually a gastroenterologist or surgeon, performs these procedures at certain hospitals and outpatient centers. You will receive local anesthesia and a sedative. The most common procedures are the following:

• Photodynamic therapy. Photodynamic therapy uses a light-activated chemical called porfimer (Photofrin), an endoscope, and a laser to kill precancerous cells in your esophagus. A doctor injects porfimer into a vein in your arm, and you return 24 to 72 hours later to complete the procedure.

Complications of photodynamic therapy may include

• sensitivity of your skin and eyes to light for about 6 weeks after the procedure
• burns, swelling, pain, and scarring in nearby healthy tissue
• coughing, trouble swallowing, stomach pain, painful breathing, and shortness of breath.

• Radiofrequency ablation. Radiofrequency ablation uses radio waves to kill precancerous and cancerous cells in the Barrett’s tissue. An electrode mounted on a balloon or an endoscope creates heat to destroy the Barrett’s tissue and precancerous and cancerous cells.

Complications of radiation ablation may include

• chest pain
• cuts in the lining of your esophagus
• strictures

Clinical trials have shown that complications are less common with radiofrequency ablation compared with photodynamic therapy.

Endoscopic mucosal resection

In endoscopic mucosal resection, your doctor lifts the Barrett’s tissue, injects a solution underneath or applies suction to the tissue, and then cuts the tissue off. The doctor then removes the tissue with an endoscope. Gastroenterologists perform this procedure at certain hospitals and outpatient centers. You will receive local anesthesia to numb your throat and a sedative to help you relax and stay comfortable.

Before performing an endoscopic mucosal resection for cancer, your doctor will do an endoscopic ultrasound.

Complications can include bleeding or tearing of your esophagus. Doctors sometimes combine endoscopic mucosal resection with photodynamic therapy.

Surgery

Surgery called esophagectomy is an alternative to endoscopic therapies. Many doctors prefer endoscopic therapies because these procedures have fewer complications.

Esophagectomy is the surgical removal of the affected sections of your esophagus. After removing sections of your esophagus, a surgeon rebuilds your esophagus from part of your stomach or large intestine. The surgery is performed at a hospital. You’ll receive general anesthesia, and you’ll stay in the hospital for 7 to 14 days after the surgery to recover.

Surgery may not be an option if you have other medical problems. Your doctor may consider the less-invasive endoscopic treatments or continued frequent surveillance instead.

Eating, Diet, & Nutrition

How can your diet help prevent Barrett’s esophagus?

Researchers have not found that diet and nutrition play an important role in causing or preventing Barrett’s esophagus.​

If you have gastroesophageal reflux (GER) or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), you can prevent or relieve your symptoms by changing your diet. Dietary changes that can help reduce your symptoms include

• decreasing fatty foods
• eating small, frequent meals instead of three large meals

Avoid eating or drinking the fol​lowing items that may make GER or GERD worse:

• ​chocolate
• coffee
• peppermint
• greasy or spicy foods​
• tomatoes and tomato products
• alcoholic drinks

Clinical Trials

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and other components of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conduct and support basic and clinical research into many digestive disorders.

What are clinical trials and are they right for you?

Clinical trials are part of clinical research and at the heart of all medical advances. Clinical trials look at new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease. Researchers also use clinical trials to look at other aspects of care, such as improving the quality of life for people with chronic illnesses. Find out if clinical trials are right for you

The post Barrett’s Esophagus. Symtoms, Diagnosis and Treatment appeared first on Medika Life.