If you’re constantly reaching for antacids to control your heartburn, you may have a more serious problem called reflux disease. Some 25 million Americans have it* and now they have a new option to treat it. Using a newly-approved device for the first time in the U.S., doctors have performed surgery to fix reflux problems without making a single incision.
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Johns Hopkins Health Alerts has just published a review of the new GERD guidelines, for safe, effective treatment of your acid reflux.
There are four types of treatments for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): lifestyle measures, medication, surgery, and endoscopic procedures.
Why it is important to treat GERD
Treating GERD is important. Untreated GERD can lead to serious complications, such as esophageal ulcers (nonhealing mucosal defects), esophageal strictures, Barrett’s esophagus (a disorder of the cells lining the esophageal mucosa, which may lead to cancer), and even esophageal cancer.
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