Medslant Acid Reflux Newsletter

New Testing for Alkaline Reflux

Most gastroesophageal reflux disease can be controlled with drugs that suppress acid and lifestyle changes; however, some reflux sufferers get no relief from OTC and prescription acid suppressers because acid is not a factor in their disorder. Non acid or alkaline reflux has long been difficult to diagnose.

But that is changing. David Quinn, M.D., a gastroenterologist and Medical Director of Endoscopy at Ohio State University Medical Center states that although physicians have long been able to detect acid to determine if acid reflux occurred, with new technology they can now detect whether the reflux is acidic or non-acidic.

Philip O Katz, M.D. Chairman of the Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia and a recognized authority on esophageal disease notes that there has been an evolution in the physician's ability to evaluate patients and in prolonged monitoring. Clinicians can now have patients wear a monitoring device which can detect the acidity of refluxed material.

Ohio State University physicians are using this new monitoring system. Patients can go about their normal activities and they will have their usual symptoms, allowing physicians to determine if the reflux occurs with typical or atypical symptoms. Typical symptoms include heartburn, an acidic taste in the mouth, and chest discomfort. Atypical symptoms include asthma, laryngitis, and chronic cough.

Patients with symptomatic non-acid reflux may be candidates for a laparoscopic surgical procedure. If you are not being helped by anti-acid medications, you may want to check with your physician and have him/her evaluate you for non-acid reflux

Many of you called or wrote to let me know that you tried the suggestion to not drink with meals and it helped. It makes sense if you think of the stomach as a container of food, liquid, and acid. If the container gets full, it can overflow; if it isn't full, it won't overflow. So, research recommends eating smaller amounts more frequently and not drinking with food.

Please keep the phone calls and emails coming to 1.800.346.1850 or customerservice@medslant.com. I love hearing from you.



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