Medslant Acid Reflux Newsletter

Reduced Esophageal Muscle Tone May Cause GERD

New research using molecular imaging is providing evidence that poor esophageal muscle tone may play a role in the development of GERD whether it is mild, moderate or severe. Reported at the June, 2010, annual meeting of the Society of Nuclear Medicine, the tests were conducted on a very small group who had either suspected or confirmed GERD.

According to Peter S. Conti, MD, PhD, Society of Nuclear Medicine research chair from the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern CA, what is different about this study is the specific test and the manner in which it was preformed. "By positioning the patient different, you trigger the dis-motility, by making it more obvious on the scan, which then allows you to make the correlation better." This new way of testing could help doctors better diagnose and treat reflux disease.

"If the findings of this study are confirmed by similar larger studies, it may lead to the use of medications to correct the abnormal muscular movements in the esophageal wall" says Alok Pawaskar, MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery), a consultant in the nuclear medicine department at Apollo Hospitals, Chennai, India.

Kombucha Tea, Anyone?

What may be this year's hottest new health drink has actually been around more than 2000 years.

Kombucha tea, a colony of bacteria and yeast frequently referred to as a mushroom because it forms a flat, pancake like structure, is made by adding the colony to sugar and black or green tea and allowing the mix to ferment. Often brewed at home with a "mother" culture that is passed on somewhat like a sour dough bread starter, the drink may be the new acai berry or pomegranate juice. Coca Cola manufactures Honest Tea Kombucha.

But nutrition experts warn that too much can be toxic, especially for people with compromised immune systems. Brent A. Bauer, MD of the Mayo Clinic cautions that it is critical to do your homework before using Kombucha tea. Dr. Bauer says you should first determine the level of evidence supporting health claims - to date there is not a single human trial reported in any major medical journal - most health benefits of Kombucha are based on personal reports. This doesn't mean that the tea can't have benefits; it just means that there is no direct evidence supporting these claims. But there have been reports of adverse effects - stomach upset, allergic reactions, toxic reactions.

The FDA cautions the contamination risk is high because Kombucha tea is often home brewed in non sterile conditions.

With no good evidence that Kombucha delivers on its claims and several reports of harm, Dr. Bauer suggests that it is prudent to avoid the tea.

Belly Fat and GERD

The YOU Docs, Mehmet Oz, MD, and Mike Roizen, MD, authors of many books including YOU: On A Diet tell us that extra belly fat pulls the stomach down, straightening the angle where the esophagus meets the stomach; when there is no angle stomach acid spills upward and burns the esophagus. Pressure on the stomach from belly fat increases the backwash. Even losing a little weight can allow the angle to return, helping with GERD. In a recent study, women who lost 5% of their weight and 2-4 inches off their waist and men who lost 10% of their weight and 4 inches off their waist saw improvement.

Dark Roast Coffee May Prevent Production of Excess Acid

A study presented at a recent meeting of the American Chemical Society, says that a compound called N-methylpyridinium - a chemical produced in the coffee roasting process - may keep stomach cells from producing excess acid. And the darker the roast, the better. Human trials are still needed but scientists expect that a darker roast may leave you with a happier tummy.

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

Wishing you a good night's sleep,

Adele

Customer Feedback

"The word 'awesome' is so overused today, but this worn out adjective deserves a place here. My wife suffers from hip pain if she sleeps on her side & if she sleeps on her back, the snoring commences.....LOUD snoring. I was looking for a slant wedge and came upon MedSlant. That night, she had the most comfortable sleep in years, no hip pain & NO snoring." JLP, DE

The MedSlant wedge pillow helps relieve the symptoms of Acid Reflux, heartburn, GERD, acid indigestion, sinus congestion, Gastroesophogeal Reflux, etc. for a healthier, more restful good night's sleep. The content providedhere is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your physician(s). Please consult your physician with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.



Back to Newsletters