Heartburn and Acid Reflux

WEBVTT 00:00:01.296 --> 00:00:06.216 >> GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease. 00:00:06.216 --> 00:00:07.856 Heartburn is a common condition. 00:00:07.926 --> 00:00:10.696 It often follows a binge at the buffet 00:00:10.696 --> 00:00:12.686 or a stressful day at work. 00:00:12.686 --> 00:00:14.376 Heartburn can make you uncomfortable 00:00:14.376 --> 00:00:15.916 and even disturb your sleep. 00:00:15.916 --> 00:00:19.056 But if you get heartburn more than twice a week, 00:00:19.056 --> 00:00:21.746 you may have a condition known as GERD. 00:00:21.746 --> 00:00:26.096 GERD stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease. 00:00:26.096 --> 00:00:30.546 Gastroesophageal refers to your stomach and esophagus. 00:00:30.546 --> 00:00:33.876 The esophagus is the tube that carries food 00:00:33.876 --> 00:00:35.846 from your mouth down to your stomach. 00:00:35.846 --> 00:00:39.476 Reflux means to flow back. 00:00:39.476 --> 00:00:43.806 Gastroesophageal reflux is the return of stomach acid and food 00:00:43.976 --> 00:00:46.666 from your stomach, back up your esophagus. 00:00:46.666 --> 00:00:52.916 Symptoms. The most common symptom of GERD is heartburn. 00:00:53.106 --> 00:00:56.636 Heartburn is also known as acid indigestion. 00:00:56.636 --> 00:00:59.656 This refers to a burning feeling in your chest, 00:00:59.946 --> 00:01:01.776 which can move up into your throat. 00:01:01.776 --> 00:01:04.446 It often causes a bad taste in your mouth. 00:01:04.636 --> 00:01:09.306 It can last several hours and is often worse after eating. 00:01:09.306 --> 00:01:13.176 Lying down or bending over can also make GERD symptoms worse. 00:01:13.176 --> 00:01:18.306 Other symptoms of GERD include bad breath, nausea, vomiting 00:01:18.456 --> 00:01:19.446 and trouble swallowing. 00:01:20.106 --> 00:01:22.626 Occasional heartburn does not mean you have GERD 00:01:23.186 --> 00:01:27.106 but heartburn more than twice a week may be GERD and can lead 00:01:27.156 --> 00:01:28.686 to more serious health problems. 00:01:30.306 --> 00:01:33.826 Causes. The burning feeling is caused 00:01:33.826 --> 00:01:36.296 by stomach acid moving into your esophagus. 00:01:36.296 --> 00:01:39.666 The lining of your stomach is designed to handle the acid. 00:01:39.826 --> 00:01:42.366 The lining of your esophagus is not. 00:01:43.056 --> 00:01:44.546 At the end of your esophagus, 00:01:44.926 --> 00:01:48.476 there's a valve called your lower esophageal sphincter 00:01:48.736 --> 00:01:50.196 or LES. 00:01:50.786 --> 00:01:53.596 The valve opens to let food move into your stomach 00:01:53.996 --> 00:01:56.526 and then closes to keep it there. 00:01:56.526 --> 00:02:00.546 If you have GERD, the LES valve relaxes too often 00:02:00.546 --> 00:02:01.396 or for too long. 00:02:01.946 --> 00:02:04.676 This allows acid to move backwards from your stomach 00:02:04.946 --> 00:02:07.816 and up into your esophagus, causing heartburn. 00:02:08.136 --> 00:02:10.676 There are some things that can weaken the valve 00:02:10.676 --> 00:02:12.156 and make reflux more likely. 00:02:12.876 --> 00:02:16.896 They include diabetes, pregnancy and medicines used 00:02:16.996 --> 00:02:19.516 to treat high blood pressure and heart conditions. 00:02:20.046 --> 00:02:21.906 Lifestyle factors that can contribute 00:02:21.906 --> 00:02:26.026 to GERD include drinking too much alcohol, overeating, 00:02:26.466 --> 00:02:28.386 being overweight and smoking. 00:02:30.506 --> 00:02:31.326 Diagnosis. 00:02:31.506 --> 00:02:35.156 To diagnose GERD, your healthcare provider will ask 00:02:35.156 --> 00:02:37.566 about your medical history and your symptoms. 00:02:38.326 --> 00:02:40.536 Some people with mild symptoms may be treated 00:02:40.586 --> 00:02:41.816 without further testing. 00:02:42.236 --> 00:02:44.966 If your symptoms are severe or do not get better 00:02:44.966 --> 00:02:47.476 with treatment, you may have certain tests. 00:02:48.086 --> 00:02:51.416 One of these tests is a called an upper gastrointestinal, 00:02:52.006 --> 00:02:53.156 or GI series. 00:02:53.156 --> 00:02:57.136 This is a special x-ray that shows the esophagus, stomach 00:02:57.526 --> 00:02:59.516 and upper part of the small intestine. 00:02:59.816 --> 00:03:03.266 The upper GI series does not provide a lot of information 00:03:03.266 --> 00:03:07.116 about GERD, but it can help to identify other problems 00:03:07.116 --> 00:03:08.616 that can cause similar pain. 00:03:09.166 --> 00:03:11.496 Another test is called endoscopy. 00:03:12.456 --> 00:03:15.706 This procedure uses an endoscope, which is a thin, 00:03:15.786 --> 00:03:19.786 flexible tube with a light and a camera on the end. 00:03:19.866 --> 00:03:21.896 The scope is moved down through your mouth 00:03:21.956 --> 00:03:24.036 and throat into your esophagus. 00:03:24.576 --> 00:03:26.796 Your healthcare provider can then look 00:03:26.796 --> 00:03:28.726 at the LES and esophagus. 00:03:29.516 --> 00:03:32.196 A small sample of tissue may be taken for testing. 00:03:32.826 --> 00:03:34.276 Other tests may be done, too. 00:03:34.956 --> 00:03:38.936 Esophageal pH and impedance monitoring measure the amount 00:03:38.936 --> 00:03:40.386 of acid in your esophagus. 00:03:41.046 --> 00:03:43.486 Esophageal manometry checks the strength 00:03:43.486 --> 00:03:46.636 of your esophagus muscles. 00:03:46.686 --> 00:03:47.086 Treatment. 00:03:48.726 --> 00:03:51.666 GERD is treated with lifestyle changes and medicine. 00:03:52.536 --> 00:03:55.286 Lifestyle changes include weight loss, if you're overweight; 00:03:55.936 --> 00:03:59.306 not lying down right after eating; quitting smoking 00:03:59.306 --> 00:04:02.206 and staying away from certain foods and drinks. 00:04:02.656 --> 00:04:06.846 Not having alcohol or caffeine can help prevent symptoms. 00:04:06.846 --> 00:04:11.016 And not eating the foods that cause symptoms will help. 00:04:11.016 --> 00:04:15.376 Common foods to avoid include fried, spicy and fatty foods. 00:04:16.176 --> 00:04:19.646 Plus acidic foods, such as citrus fruits and tomatoes. 00:04:20.556 --> 00:04:22.406 You should also stay away from peppermint, 00:04:22.706 --> 00:04:25.016 which causes the stomach to make more acid. 00:04:25.186 --> 00:04:28.916 To help prevent reflux while you sleep, raise the head 00:04:28.916 --> 00:04:32.406 of your bed by six inches, by placing blocks of wood 00:04:32.406 --> 00:04:34.046 or thick books under the legs. 00:04:34.486 --> 00:04:37.706 Medicines called antacids can also help stop heartburn. 00:04:38.546 --> 00:04:41.516 Many chewable and liquid antacids give quick relief. 00:04:42.376 --> 00:04:44.826 These make the stomach acid less acidic. 00:04:45.546 --> 00:04:48.866 Other medicines, such as histamine two or H2 blockers 00:04:49.166 --> 00:04:53.276 and proton pump inhibitors cause the stomach to make less acid. 00:04:53.926 --> 00:04:57.096 These are available over the counter and by prescription. 00:04:57.616 --> 00:05:00.326 Your healthcare provider may prescribe other medicines called 00:05:00.406 --> 00:05:01.786 promotility agents. 00:05:02.276 --> 00:05:04.446 These help move food through your stomach. 00:05:05.316 --> 00:05:06.686 Talk with your healthcare provider 00:05:06.686 --> 00:05:08.666 about whether medicines are right for you. 00:05:09.326 --> 00:05:12.606 In severe cases that don't get better with lifestyle changes 00:05:12.606 --> 00:05:15.316 and medicines, surgery may be needed. 00:05:15.986 --> 00:05:18.726 Your healthcare provider can tell you more about the types 00:05:18.726 --> 00:05:21.746 of surgery that can help. 00:05:22.376 --> 00:05:23.296 Things to remember. 00:05:25.526 --> 00:05:27.326 Don't lie down right after eating. 00:05:28.026 --> 00:05:30.576 Raise the head of your bed by placing wood blocks 00:05:30.636 --> 00:05:32.136 or thick books under the legs. 00:05:33.046 --> 00:05:36.296 Stay away from foods and drinks that can make heartburn worse. 00:05:36.846 --> 00:05:40.266 Take antacid medicines, as your healthcare provider recommends. 00:05:40.986 --> 00:05:42.906 Not all heartburn is GERD. 00:05:42.906 --> 00:05:46.106 Talk with your healthcare provider about your symptoms. 00:05:46.106 --> 00:05:49.816 Medicines and some simple changes can help you feel better 00:05:49.856 --> 00:05:50.496 right away. 00:05:50.576 --> 00:05:54.536 What we have learned. 00:05:54.536 --> 00:05:58.786 Heartburn is caused by stomach acid in the esophagus. 00:05:59.366 --> 00:06:01.236 True or false? 00:06:01.616 --> 00:06:04.156 The answer is true. 00:06:05.296 --> 00:06:08.006 The acid burns the lining of the esophagus. 00:06:10.266 --> 00:06:13.636 Stomach acid backs up because of a weak valve. 00:06:14.856 --> 00:06:16.246 True or false? 00:06:17.886 --> 00:06:19.376 The answer is true. 00:06:20.526 --> 00:06:22.006 The LES valve at the end 00:06:22.006 --> 00:06:24.986 of the esophagus does not stay closed as it should. 00:06:27.256 --> 00:06:28.916 Reflux means backing up. 00:06:30.126 --> 00:06:31.426 True or false? 00:06:32.996 --> 00:06:34.196 The answer is true. 00:06:35.366 --> 00:06:37.976 In GERD, stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. 00:06:38.516 --> 00:06:44.516 [ Music ] 00:06:45.516 --> 00:06:50.940 [ Silence ]