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Question
17 Aug 2007
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"GERDS DISEASE"
My 74 year old mom has now been diagnosed (after many, many tests) with "Gerds Disease". Initially, they thought it was Bronchial pneumonia, then TB, then cancer, then pneumonia and many others. She coughs a lot and there was some wheezing. I have done a search for gerds disease but only came up with something to do with respiratory problems in cats and dogs! What is this disease? Can you help?
Many thanks
Many thanks
CyberDoc
Dear Jacks
Thank you for visiting health24.com.
GERD Disease is defined as symptoms (usually heartburn) severe enough to affect quality of life or to cause esophageal mucosal damage. Most patients self medicate and do not seek medical care. 75% of patients seeking medical therapy report heartburn as main symptoms.
Most patients with GERD Disease have typical heartburn (epigastric or lower chest burning) or involuntary regurgitation or liquidified food into esophagus or pharynx (waterbrash). Less common symptoms (with or without heartburn), are laryngitis (horseness, loss of voice) and half of the patients with typical cardiac chest pain and normal coronary arteries have GERD. 10 to 40% of patients with chronic cough have GERD.
The symptoms can be exacerbated by fats, chocolates, xanthines, mints, carminatives, calcium channel blockers, prostaglandins, anti-cholinergics and alcohol. Other causes for GERD Disease, are impaired esophageal clearance, decreased salivation, decreased esophageal contraction.
It will be treated with lifestyle and diet modifications by experts as first and ongoing therapy.
Diet: Avoid caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, citrated drinks, high fat foods, bedtime eating, lying down after eating
Lifestyle: Lose weight and stop smoking, avoid bending, tight fitting garments, elevate head of bed 12 cm in front (not with pillows).
Mild symptoms can be treated with over the counter antacids.
Moderate to severe symptoms: stepdown therapy, i.e. Protein pump inhibitors(rapid relief of symptoms, superior to histamine 2 blockers, fewer side effects, first line treatment in elderly) or Surgical therapy.
Kind regards
Dr Anrich Burger
Thank you for visiting health24.com.
GERD Disease is defined as symptoms (usually heartburn) severe enough to affect quality of life or to cause esophageal mucosal damage. Most patients self medicate and do not seek medical care. 75% of patients seeking medical therapy report heartburn as main symptoms.
Most patients with GERD Disease have typical heartburn (epigastric or lower chest burning) or involuntary regurgitation or liquidified food into esophagus or pharynx (waterbrash). Less common symptoms (with or without heartburn), are laryngitis (horseness, loss of voice) and half of the patients with typical cardiac chest pain and normal coronary arteries have GERD. 10 to 40% of patients with chronic cough have GERD.
The symptoms can be exacerbated by fats, chocolates, xanthines, mints, carminatives, calcium channel blockers, prostaglandins, anti-cholinergics and alcohol. Other causes for GERD Disease, are impaired esophageal clearance, decreased salivation, decreased esophageal contraction.
It will be treated with lifestyle and diet modifications by experts as first and ongoing therapy.
Diet: Avoid caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, citrated drinks, high fat foods, bedtime eating, lying down after eating
Lifestyle: Lose weight and stop smoking, avoid bending, tight fitting garments, elevate head of bed 12 cm in front (not with pillows).
Mild symptoms can be treated with over the counter antacids.
Moderate to severe symptoms: stepdown therapy, i.e. Protein pump inhibitors(rapid relief of symptoms, superior to histamine 2 blockers, fewer side effects, first line treatment in elderly) or Surgical therapy.
Kind regards
Dr Anrich Burger
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