Medslant Acid Reflux Newsletter

Gastroesophoageal Reflux and Excercise

Last month's blurb on the relationship between jarring exercise and heartburn sparked so many responses that I decided the topic deserved more research.

First we'll explore this condition and then I'll share a few reader comments.

EAGER - Exertion Associated Gastroesophoageal Reflux

The conditionexercise induced heartburnhas become so prevalent that it even has a name: EAGER or exertion associated gastroesophoageal reflux. The name was coined by Steven R. Peikin, M.D., Professor of Medicine and Head of the Division of Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases at the Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine and Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center in Camden, New Jersey. Dr. Peikin, board certified in both internal medicine and gastroenterology was selected by his peers as 'Top Doctor' for both Philadelphia Magazine and New Jersey Magazine. He was also selected to 'Best Doctors in America' and his medical students voted to give him the Golden Apple Teaching Award for 1997-2001.

Johnson & Johnson Merck Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co, a joint venture between two of the nation's largest healthcare companies, and maker of Pepcid and Pepcid Complete sponsored an online survey of 1000 Baby Boomers (ages 3560) to determine if a relationship exists between heartburn and exercise. Seventy five percent of those surveyed experience heartburn occasionally and 31% had regular heartburn. But of those with regular bouts of heartburn, 45% said they experience it when they exercise. The consequence is that the heartburn sufferers exercise less than those without heartburn. According to Dr. Peikin, this exercise induced heartburn discourages exercise and takes people away from their efforts to work toward improving their overall health.

There are suggestions:

* Wait at least one hour after eating before exercising. * Avoid fatty and greasy foods and caffeine before exercise. * Try a less jarring exercise. * Take an OTC antacid, preferably one with an acid reducer prior to exercising. * Drink (not gulp) cool water before and during exercise to aid in digestion. (cool water is absorbed more quickly).

Many of our readers disagree with the less jarring exercise recommendation, and although the antacid suggestion may be an excellent one, please remember that the survey was conducted by the manufacturer of Pepcid. Here is what a few people had to say:

'You may want to rethink advising swimming as an exercise which is heartburn friendly. The body is horizontal while swimming, presumably making it easier for stomach contents to flow into the esophagus. I have reflux disease and swam as an exercise for a couple of years, and was diagnosed with scarring of the esophagus. Now I do a treadmill'.

'When I left weights, I have severe heartburn that evening. I've tried to research this and haven't been able to find any information. Do other people have this problem?'

'I had to respond to the idea of jogging or running contributing to reflux. I run, jog, and do dance/impact aerobics for 45 minutes a day, 5 x a week and have not found any increase in reflux; quite the oppositeit helps. 'as for the people who believe their reflux worsens during impact exercisesthey are probably not breathing properly and therefore swallowing air which can mimic symptoms.'

We all know the plus side of exercise, especially that it can aid in maintaining a proper weight and in promoting many general health benefits, all of which help to control GERD.

These conflicting comments just strengthen one pointIF YOU EXPERIENCE HEARTBURN DURING OR AFTER EXERCISE, CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR. We all react differently.

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



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