When heartburn or acid reflux becomes a constant hassle in your life or worse, causes you pain, you should get checked out by the best GERD doctors in the tri-state area. Not only is acid reflux uncomfortable, but it also can lead to more serious complications that are much more difficult to treat, such as Barrett’s esophagus. Get effective long-term treatment of your GERD by calling a specialist today to find out your options. Advanced Surgical & Bariatrics of NJ, PA has five offices and an outstanding reputation.
What is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a condition that causes stomach acid to flow backwards out of your stomach and into your esophagus and throat. Eventually, the backwash irritates the lining of your esophagus, which can cause pain and a burning sensation. A patient diagnosed with GERD usually has a weakened lower esophageal sphincter which is a valve between the stomach and esophagus. When this sphincter fails to close tightly, it allows food and stomach acids to flow back into the esophagus (reflux). The esophageal lining can become inflamed or irritated due to these acids, causing the burning chest pain, sour taste, or cough that patients often suffer from.
For many people, acid reflux happens only occasionally and is often worsened with particular foods. These instances of GERD do not typically cause permanent damage. Others who experience more severe symptoms of GERD, would benefit from evaluation by the top GERD doctors in New York, New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania available at Advanced Surgical & Bariatrics of NJ, PA.
What Causes You to Seek GERD Treatment
Gastroesophageal reflux disease treatment usually is not required if you only experience mild heartburn or occasional discomfort. Your GERD is considered a mild condition if you only have symptoms once a week and severe or moderate if acid reflux occurs more than once a week. You’re at an increased risk of developing GERD if you:
- Are obese
- Are pregnant
- Suffer a delay in your stomach emptying
- Have a hiatal hernia, which causes a bulge at the top of your stomach
- Have scleroderma or another connective tissue disorder
These risk factors are aggravated by:
- Consuming fried and fatty foods
- Eating late at night
- Smoking cigarettes
- Taking aspirin or other medications
- Drinking coffee or alcohol frequently
Visit Top GERD Doctors
You should seek emergency treatment if you have chest pains or get short of breath, particularly if it’s accompanied by arm or jaw pain. These symptoms may also indicate you’re having a heart attack and not just acid reflux. You should get treatment from the best doctor for GERD, especially if you find yourself taking over-the-counter medications for heartburn or discomfort more than once a week or if your symptoms become severe.
Without an appropriate GERD treatment, continued acid reflux can lead to a host of complications, such as:
- Barrett’s esophagus, which can lead to esophageal cancer. It occurs from the constant exposure of acid that affects the tissue lining your throat.
- Ulcers, or open sores in your throat or esophagus, that cause difficulty swallowing, pain, and bleeding.
- Narrowing of your throat or esophagus due to the scar tissue created after continual acid reflux. This also leads to trouble swallowing.
Your GERD doctor may be able to diagnose your condition simply by listening to your symptoms and understanding when they started. The best GERD doctors have a number of tests available to confirm the diagnosis, including:
- A digestive system x-ray that requires you to drink a liquid; which coats your throat and stomach to make abnormalities visible
- Manometry that measures the muscle contractions in your esophagus
- Endoscopy, which requires your doctor to insert a camera and light down your throat to view any damage from the GERD.
The interprofessional team at Advanced Surgical & Bariatrics offers GERD therapy consisting of lifestyle modifications, medical management with antacids and antisecretory agents, abdominal surgery, and endoluminal procedures. Visit one of our offices in NJ and discover why we are considered the best GERD doctors.