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Treatment Options

Lifestyle Modifications

The first step in treating mild acid reflux often includes lifestyle and diet modifications:

  • Avoid food, beverages and medications that can aggravate acid reflux symptoms: spicy foods, fatty or fried foods, chocolate, peppermint, alcohol, caffeine, soda, mustard, citrus or fruit juices, vinegar and tomato products, including ketchup.
  • Decrease portion sizes at mealtime
  • Eat meals at least two to three hours before bedtime and go to sleep with an empty stomach
  • Elevate the head of your bed four to six inches or use a wedge
  • Lose weight
  • Exercise with an empty stomach
  • Avoid tight clothing
  • Stop smoking
  • Avoid stress

Medications

In addition to lifestyle changes, there are a number of over-the-counter and prescription medications available to relieve moderate or severe acid reflux symptoms. Some of these medications neutralize stomach acid while others help stop acid production. For most, medications are effective, but they may require lifelong use for continued control of symptoms.

There are several classes of medications that may help in controlling the initial signs and symptoms of heartburn/GERD:

Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are designed for short-term use (two weeks). If your symptoms continue you should contact your physician or one of our GERD experts.

Antacids neutralize acid in the stomach. Examples of antacids include Rolaids®, Tums® and Maalox®.

H2 Blockers reduce acid production. Examples of H2 blockers include Zantac®, Pepcid®  and Axid.

PPI's proton pump inhibitors effectively stop acid production. Examples of ppi's include Prevacid® and Prilosec®.

Prescription strength medications of the H2 Blockers and PPI's are commonly prescribed. These often are very effective in treating the side-effects of heartburn, though they do not treat the underlying cause. Furthermore, new data about PPI's (Nexium®, Aciphex®, Prevacid®, Prilosec®, Protonix, Dexilant) raises concerns about long-term use. You should ask your physician or one of our experts if you are taking these medications longer than three months.

Surgery

Medications work in about 90 percent of people with acid reflux. However, they don't work for everyone and don't repair the cause of acid reflux. For moderate or severe acid reflux, surgery may be a treatment option if:

  • You continue to suffer from persistent heartburn, or other reflux symptoms, while taking medication
  • You are concerned about or develop adverse side effects such as osteoporosis as a result of taking medication
  • Symptoms return when therapy is stopped
  • Your esophagus is damaged (bleeding/stricture)
  • You prefer not to take lifelong medication or feel you cannot afford to do so

The LINX® Reflux Management System

Medications for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) are designed to control or suppress acid production in the stomach. But they do not address the cause of GERD, a weak sphincter muscle, and can't prevent reflux. Approximately 40 percent of GERD sufferers continue to have symptoms while taking medications.

The LINX® Reflux Management System is the only available FDA-approved device to treat GERD at its source.

How does LINX® work?

The LINX® System is a small, flexible band of magnets enclosed in titanium beads. The system is implanted around the weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which is located just above the stomach. The magnetic attraction between the beads keeps the weak esophageal sphincter closed to help prevent reflux.

Swallowing forces separate the beads temporarily to allow food and liquid to pass into the stomach.

How long is the procedure?

LINX® is implanted laparoscopically in a minimally invasive procedure that typically takes less than one hour. Patients generally go home within one day.

What kind of results can I expect?

LINX® study results appeared in New England Journal of Medicine. The three-year results of the five-year clinical study assessed 100 patients with chronic GERD before and after treatment with the LINX System.

Results showed that after treatment:

  • 91 percent of patients achieved freedom from GERD medication
  • 92 percent of patients achieved significant symptom improvement
  • 100 percent of patients eliminated severe regurgitation
  • 99 percent of patients eliminated daily sleep disruption due to heartburn
  • 94 percent of patients were satisfied with their overall condition

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