GERD: Health Story

Aired on Superstation WGN
Saturday, April 2 and July 2, 2005

Show 210

Over 60 million Americans suffer from acid reflux or GERD, gastro esophageal reflux disease. Even infants and kids get reflux. "The major symptoms are heartburn and regurgitation," says, Dr. Lauren Gerson at Stanford Medical Center. "Acid reflux is a chronic disease produced by acid leaking into the esophagus. This happens when a valve between the stomach and esophagus stays open," says Dr. George Triadafilopoulos, gastroenterologist at El Camino Crohn's and Colitis Medical Clinic. Many take over-the-counter medications for acid reflux. But for 20 percent of the population, medication doesn't work. Some people opt for surgery. A new procedure called Stretta which tightens the valve takes less than an hour outpatient and is 70 percent successful. "Six months after this procedure, the acid in the esophagus is reduced to 5 percent," says Dr. Neil Stollman at San Francisco General Hospital. "The Stretta procedure is more aggressive than medicine, but not as major as surgery," says Dr. Brent Matthews at the Washington School of Medicine in St Louis. "In the past five years there have been revolutionary strides in endoscopic treatments," says Dr. Triadafilopoulos. Aline Humphrey who had the Stretta procedure says, "It's been three years and I feel wonderful."