1 www.digestivediseases.blogpost.com

What are the symptoms of biliary atresia?

The first hint of biliary atresia is jaundice, which causes a yellow-colored colour to the skin and to the white-colored wines of the little brown eyes. Jaundice is due to the liver organ not getting rid of bilirubin, a yellow-colored color from the body. Normally, bilirubin is taken up by the liver organ and produced into the bile. However, obstruction of the bile channels causes bilirubin and other features of bile to create up in the body.

Jaundice may be hard for mother and father and even physicians to diagnose. Many balanced children have slight jaundice during the first 1 to 2 months of lifestyle due to immaturity of the liver organ. This standard kind of jaundice vanishes by the second or third A week of lifestyle, whereas the jaundice of biliary atresia increases. Newborns with jaundice after 2 months of lifestyle should be taken to the medical professional to test for a possible liver organ challenge.

Other symptoms of jaundice are a darkening of the pee and a whitening in large of colon motions. The pee darkens from the high stages of bilirubin in the body dropping over into the pee, while chair lightens from a insufficient bilirubin attaining the colon. Passed, greyish, or white-colored colon motions after 2 months of age are probably the most efficient hint of a liver organ challenge and should fast a trip to the medical professional.

Abbey's Story
Abbey was born with Biliary Atresia. It occurs in 1 in 15,000 births. There are no known causes or modifiable risk factors. Abbey underwent an unsuccessful "life-extending" operation at 6-8 weeks of age. Abbey subsequently developed progressive liver failure. The only cure for Biliary Atresia is liver transplatation. Being an organ donor can save 6 or more lives. Discover, Discuss and Decide. www.donatelife.gov.au
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What is Biliary Atresia

Biliary atresia is a rare but serious disease of the liver that affects newborn infants. It occurs in about one in 10,000 children and is more common in girls than in boys and newborns Asian and African Americans than in Caucasian infants. Biliary atresia is the most common reason for liver transplantation in children in the United States and most of the western world.

Liver damage incurred by biliary atresia is caused by damage and loss (atresia) of the bile ducts, which is responsible for draining bile from the liver. Bile is made in the liver through the bile ducts and intestines where it helps digest food, fat and cholesterol. The loss of bile ducts causes bile to remain in the liver. When bile accumulates, it can damage the liver, causing scarring and loss of liver tissue. When the liver fails, a liver transplant becomes necessary. Biliary atresia can lead to liver failure and the need for a liver transplant in 1-2 years of life.

The pathology of the extrahepatic biliary system widely varies in these patients, and the following classification is based on the predominant site of atresia:
  • Type I involves obliteration of the common duct; the proximal ducts are patent
  • Type II is characterized by atresia of the hepatic duct, with cystic structures found in the porta hepatis
  • Type III (>90% of patients) involves atresia of the right and left hepatic ducts to the level of the porta hepatis. These variants should not be confused with intrahepatic biliary hypoplasia, which comprises a group of distinct and surgically noncorrectable disorders.

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Does drinking water during or after a meal disturb digestion?

There's no concern that water will dilute the digestive juices or interfere with digestion. In fact, drinking water during or after a meal can actually improve digestion. Water and other liquids help break down the food in your stomach and keep your digestive system on track. Looking for other ways to promote good digestion? Focus on a healthy lifestyle. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Maintain a healthy weight. Include physical activity in your daily routine.

Source: from Michael F. Picco, M.D. www.mayoclinic.org

Drinking Water Before Meals Can Help You Lose Weight

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Gluten Free Diet

Definition

A gluten-free diet is a diet that excludes the protein gluten. Gluten is found in grains such as wheat, barley and rye.
A gluten-free diet is used to treat celiac disease. Gluten causes inflammation in the small intestines of people with celiac disease. Eating a gluten-free diet helps people with celiac disease control their signs and symptoms and prevent complications.

Purpose

The gluten-free diet is a treatment for celiac disease.

Diet details

Always avoid
In order to avoid eating gluten, avoid food and drinks containing:
  • Barley
  • Bulgur
  • Durham
  • Farina
  • Graham flour
  • Kamut
  • Matzo meal
  • Rye
  • Semolina
  • Spelt (a form of wheat)
  • Triticale
  • Wheat
Avoid unless labeled 'gluten free'
Avoid these foods unless they're labeled as gluten free or made with corn, rice, soy or other gluten-free grain. Also check the label to see that they're processed in a facility that is free of wheat or other contaminating products:
  • Beers
  • Breads
  • Candies
  • Cakes and pies
  • Cereals
  • Cookies
  • Crackers
  • Croutons
  • Gravies
  • Imitation meats or seafood
  • Oats
  • Pastas
  • Processed luncheon meats
  • Salad dressings
  • Sauces (including soy sauce)
  • Self-basting poultry
  • Soups
Certain grains, such as oats, can be contaminated with wheat during growing and processing stages of production. It's not clear whether oats are harmful for most people with celiac disease, but doctors generally recommend avoiding oats unless they are specifically labeled gluten free. The question of whether people eating a gluten-free diet can consume pure oat products remains a subject of scientific debate.


Allowed foods
There are still many basic foods allowed in a gluten-free diet. With all foods, check to see that each is labeled gluten free or call the manufacturer to double-check.
Grains and starches allowed in a gluten-free diet include:
  • Amaranth
  • Arrowroot
  • Buckwheat
  • Corn
  • Cornmeal
  • Gluten-free flours (rice, soy, corn, potato, bean)
  • Hominy grits
  • Polenta
  • Pure corn tortillas
  • Quinoa
  • Rice
  • Tapioca
Check the label when buying amaranth, buckwheat and quinoa. These can be contaminated with gluten during processing.

Results

People with celiac disease who eat a gluten-free diet experience fewer symptoms and complications of the disease. People with celiac disease must eat a strictly gluten-free diet and must remain on the diet for the remainder of their lives.
In some severe cases, a gluten-free diet alone can't stop signs and symptoms of celiac disease. In these cases, doctors might prescribe medications to suppress the immune system.

Risks

Not eating enough vitamins
People who follow a gluten-free diet may have low levels of certain vitamins and nutrients in their diets. Many grains are enriched with vitamins. Avoiding grains with a gluten-free diet may mean eating fewer of these enriched products. Ask your dietitian to review your diet to see that you're getting enough:
  • Iron
  • Calcium
  • Fiber
  • Thiamin
  • Riboflavin
  • Niacin
  • Folate

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.com
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Spokane Digestive Disease Center

Spokane Digestive Disease Center, Sddc North ASC is committed to providing outstanding patient care in the Spokane area, but before you commit to Spokane Digestive Disease Center, Sddc North ASC for a procedure make sure you compare and shop for the medical procedures you require. It may save you hundreds of dollars. To compare Spokane Digestive Disease Center, Sddc North ASC to other healthcare providers in the Spokane, WA area simply click on the procedure name below to see the other facilities and prices in your area.

Specializing In Upper Endoscopy, Modern Medical Technology, Colonoscopy and Colon Cancer Screening, Capsule Endoscopy, Practice Limited to Gastroenterology and Endoscopic Procedures, Complete Gi Care, Exceptional Staff of Professional & Ancillary Personnel, Complete Care, Board Certified by The American Board of Internal Medicine & The Subspecialty Board of Gastroenterol, Ambulatory Surgery Center.

Facility Overview

Featured Medical Procedure Costs
Procedure                  Performed Last Year     Average List Price
Colonoscopy                   2500+                           $2,550.00
Upper GI Endoscopy       2500+                           $2,850.00

Contact:
46 E Rowan Ave, Spokane, WA 99207
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Cleveland Clinic Informations

Cleveland Clinic
With especially strong scores in 13 specialties, Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH, was named once again to the Best Hospitals Honor Roll. Cleveland Clinic is ranked nationally in 16 adult and 10 pediatric specialties. This hospital is a 1,214-bed general medical and surgical facility with 54,038 annual admissions, according to the latest data. It performed 27,142 annual inpatient and 52,757 outpatient surgeries. Its emergency room had 56,041 visits. Cleveland Clinic is a teaching hospital. It is also accredited by the Joint Commission (JC) and the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

This hospital was among 140 facilities—fewer than 3 percent of the 4,825 analyzed for the latest Best Hospitals rankings—to be ranked in even one of the 16 specialties.

This hospital was among 76 facilities ranked in one or more of the 10 pediatric specialties in the 2011-12 version of Best Children's Hospitals.

Under a federal program, most U.S. hospitals now sample recently discharged patients and ask them about their stay. In a year's worth of surveys, here's how this hospital's patients responded to a key question, along with averages within the state and nationally.


Contact:Call Cleveland Clinic at 800.223.2273
Cleveland Clinic
9500 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44195
 
VIDEOS ABOUT CLEVELAND CLINIC


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California Hospital List

Adventist Health - Roseville, California
Alameda Hospital - Alameda, California
Alta Bates Medical Center - Berkeley, California
Alvarado Hospital Medical Center - San Diego, California
Antelope Valley Hospital Medical Center - Lancaster, California
Arrowhead Regional Medical Center - Colton, California
Bakersfield Heart Hospital - Bakersfield, California
Barlow Respiratory Hospital - Los Angeles, California
Barstow Community Hospital - Barstow, California
Beverly Hospital - Montebello, California
Bridgeto Wellness (Adult Psychiatric Partial Hospitalization) - San Francisco, California
Brotman Medical Center - Culver City, California
California Pacific Medical Center - San Francisco, California
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center - Los Angeles, California
Centinela Hospital Medical Center - Inglewood, California
Century City Hospital - Los Angeles, California
Chapman Medical Center - Orange California
Childrens Hospital - San Duegi, California
Children's Hospital and Health Center - San Diego, California
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles - Los Angeles, California
Children's Hospital of Orange County - Orange County, California
Chino Valley Medical Center - Chino, California
Citrus Valley Health Partners (Citrus Valley Medical Center,Inter-Community Campus & Queen of the Valley Campus, Foothill Presbyterian Hospital, Citrus Valley Hospice) - West Covina, Covina, California
City of Hope (National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute) - Duarte, California
Coastal Communities Hospital - Santa Ana, California
Community Hospital of the Monterey Penisula - Monterey, California
Community Hospital of Huntington Park - Huntington Park, California
Community Hospital of Long Beach - Long Beach, California
Community Hospital of Los Gatos - Los Gatos, California
Community Memorial Hospital - Ventura, California
Community Medical Centers - Fresno, California
Cottage Hospital - Santa Barbara, California
Daniel Freeman Marina Hospital - Marina del Rey, California
Delta Memorial - Contra Costa, California
Desert Regional Medical Center - Palm Springs, California
Desert Valley Hospital - Victorville, California
Doctors Hospital of Manteca - Manteca, California
Doctors Medical Center - Pinole Campus - Pinole, California
Doctors Medical Center - San Pablo Campus - San Pablo, California
Doctors Medical Center of Modesto - Modesto, California
Dominican Hospital - Santa Cruz, California
Downey Regional Medical Center - Downey, California
East Valley Hospital - Glendora, California
Eden Medical Center - Castro Valley, California
El Camino Hospital - Mountain View, California
Eisenhower Medical Center - Rancho Mirage, California
Emanuel Medical Center - Turlock, California
Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center - Encino and Tarzana, California
Enlowe General Hospital - Chico Califorina, California
Fountain Valley Regional Hospital - Fountain Valley, California
Frazier Mountain Community Health Frazier Park, California
Freemont Medical Center - Freemont, California
Fremont Hospital - Yubacity, California
Fremont Hospital - Fremont, California
Fresno Community Hospital - Fresno, California
Fresno Heart Hospital - Fresno, California
Garden Grove Hospital and Medical Center - Garden Grove, California
Garfield Medical Center - Monterey Park, California
Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center - Glendale, California
Good Samaritan Hospital - San Jose, California
Good Samaritan Hospital - Los Angeles, California
Greater El Monte Community Hospital - South El Monte, California
Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital - Valencia, California
Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian - Newport Beach, California
Hospital Council of Northern and Central California - California
Huntington Memorial Hospital - Pasadena, California
Inland Valley Regional Medical Center - Wildomar, California
Irvine Medical Center - Irvine, Cali fornia
John Douglas French Center - Los Alamitos, California
John Muir Medical Center - Walnut Creek, California
John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital - Indio, California
Kaiser Permanente - California
Kaweah Delta District Hospital - Visalia, California
Kern Medical Center - Bakersfield,California
Lakewood Regional Medical Center - Lakewood, California
Las Encias Hospital - Pasadena, California
Little Company of Mary Hospital - torrance, California
Los Alamitos Medical Center - Los Alamitos, California
Los Angeles County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center - Torrance, California
Loma Linda University Medical Center - Loma Linda, California
Loma Linda VA Hospital - Loma Linda, California
Los Robles Hospital - Thousand Oaks, California
Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford - Palo Alto, CA
Mad River Community Hospital - Arcata, California
Madera Community Hospital - Madera, California
Marin GeneralHospital - Greenbrae, California
Marshal Hospital - Placer Ville, California
Martin Luther King Jr Hospital - Los Angeles, California
Mendocino Coast District Hospital - Fort Bragg, California
Mercy Medical Center - Redding, California
Midway Hospital Medical Center - Los Angeles, California
Miller Children's Hospital - Long Beach, California
Mission Hospital of Huntington Park - Huntington Park, California
Mission Hospital Regional Medical Center - Mission Viejo, California
Monterey Park Hospital - Monterey Park, California
Mountains Community Hospital - Lake Arrowhead, California
Mt. Diablo Medical Center -John Muir Health Concord, California
Natividad Medical Center - Salinas, California (Monterey County)
Northbay Medical - Fairfield, California
North Rich Medical - Van Nuys, California
Oak Valley Hospital - Oakdale, California
O'Connor Hospital - San Jose, California
Palomar Pomerado Health System - San Diego, California
Pacific Alliance - LA, California
Parkview Community Hospital - Riverside, California
Parkview Hospital - Riverside, California
Placentia Linda Hospital - Placentia, California
Providence Holy Cross Hospital - Sylmar, California
Queen of Angels-Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center - Los Angeles, California
Queen of the Valley - West Covina, California
Queen of the Valley - Napa, California
Rancho Springs Medical Center - Murrieta, California
Redding Medical Center - Redding, California
Redlands Community Hospital - Redlands, California
Regional Medical Center of San Jose - San Jose, California
Riverside Community Hospital - Riverside, California
Riverside County Regional Medical Center - Riverside, California
Saddleback Memorial Hospital - Laguna Hills, California
San Miguel Hospital - Contra Costa, California
Saint Agnes Medical Center - Fresno, California
Saint Francis Medical Center - Santa Barbara, California
Saint Francis Memorial Hospital (Spine Center) - San Francisco, California
Saint John's Health Center - Santa Monica, California
Saint Joseph - Glendale, California
San Dimas Community Hospital - San Dimas, California
San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center - San Francisco,California
San Joaquin Community Hospital - Bakersfield, California
San Jose Medical Center - San Jose, California
Scrippshealth - San Diego, California
Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospita - Grass Valley, California
St. Bernadines Medical Center - San Bernadino, California
St. Jude Medical Center - Fullerton, California
St. Mary's Medical Center - San Francisco, California
Saint Rose Hospital - Hayward, California
Salinas Surgery Center - Salinas, California
Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital - Salinas, California
San Antonio Community Hospital - Upland, California
San Ramon Regional Medical Center - San Ramon, California
Santa Ana Hospital Medical Center - Santa Ana, California
SHARP HealthCare - San Diego, California
Sherman Oaks Hospital and Health Center - Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles County, California
Shriners Hospital - Los Angeles, California
Shriners Hospital - Sacramento, California
Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center - San Luis Obispo, California
Sonora Community Hospital - East Sonora, California
Sonoma Valley Hospital - 347 Andrieux Street, Sonoma, CA 95476
Stanford University Medical Center - Stanford, California
St. Joseph Hospital - Orange, California
St. Luke Medical Center - Pasadena, California
St. Luke's Hospital - San Francisco, California
Suburban Medical Center - Paramount, California
Summit Medical Center - Oakland, California
Sutter Delta Memorial - Antioch, California
Sutter Health System - Sacramento, California
Sutter Maternity and Surgery Hospital - Santa Cruz, California
Tahoe Forest Hospital - Truckee, California
Torrance Memorial Medical Center - Torrance, California
Torrance Medical Center - Torrance, California
Tri-City Medical Center - Oceanside, California
Tuolumne General Hospital - Sonora, California
Twin Cities Community Hospital - Templeton, California
University of California San Francisco Medical Center - San Francisco, California
UCSF/Mount Zion Medical Center - San Francisco, California
UCSF Medical Center - San Francisco, California
University of California Davis Medical Center - California
UCSD Medical Center - San Diego, California
USC (University of Southern California) University Hospital - Los Angeles, California
VA Medical Center - San Francisco, California
Valley Children's Hospital - Madera, California
ValleyCare Health System - Livermore, California
Valley Presbytarian - Van Nuys, California
Ventura Community Hospital - Ventura, California
Victor Valley Hospital - VictorVille, California
Western Medical Center - Santa Ana, California
West Hills Hospital - West Hills, California
West Los Angeles Memorial Hospital - Los Angles, California
Western Medical Center - Anaheim - Anaheim, California
White Memorial Medical Center - L.A. California
Whittier Hospital Medical Center - Whittier, California
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Arkansas Hospital List

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Arizona Hospitals List

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Alabama Hospitals List

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Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic
Mayo Clinic - Nationally Ranked Hospital
With especially strong scores in 15 specialties, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, was named once again to the Best Hospitals Honor Roll. Mayo Clinic is ranked nationally in 16 adult and 10 pediatric specialties. This hospital is a 1,302-bed general medical and surgical facility with 62,400 annual admissions, according to the latest data. It performed 29,883 annual inpatient and 21,035 outpatient surgeries. Its emergency room had 79,542 visits. Mayo Clinic is a teaching hospital. It is also accredited by the Joint Commission (JC), the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), and the American Osteopathic Association.
Profile for Patients
Each year, more than 500,000 people from all walks of life come to Mayo Clinic locations in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. Our patients come from all 50 states and nearly 150 countries. As a not-for-profit organization, Mayo Clinic has been putting the needs of patients first for more than 100 years.

Mayo Clinic’s approach to health care stems from a culture of collaboration. More than 3,700 physicians and scientists and more than 50,000 allied health staff work together across medical specialties to provide every patient with the best quality care. Patients receive thorough medical tests and physician consultations in just a few days. This often results in a quick diagnosis, and treatments — including surgery — can be scheduled for the next day.

Profile for Professionals
Mayo Clinic is the first and largest integrated, not-for-profit group practice in the world. Doctors from every medical specialty work together to care for patients, joined by common systems and a philosophy of "the needs of the patient come first". More than 3,700 physicians, scientists and researchers and more than 55,000 allied health staff work at Mayo Clinic, which has sites in Rochester, MN;  Jacksonville, FL.; Scottsdale/Phoenix, AZ; and community-based providers in more than 70 locations in southern Minnesota, western Wisconsin and northeast Iowa.

Adult Specialties
This hospital was among 140 facilities—fewer than 3 percent of the 4,825 analyzed for the latest Best Hospitals rankings—to be ranked in even one of the 16 specialties.

Pediatric Specialties

This hospital was among 76 facilities ranked in one or more of the 10 pediatric specialties in the 2011-12 version of Best Children's Hospitals.

Website: http://www.mayoclinic.org

Contact Mayo Clinic

Arizona - Scottsdale / Phoenix

Mayo Clinic
13400 East Shea Boulevard
Scottsdale, AZ 85259
General Number 480-301-8000
Appointment Office 800-446-2279 (toll-free)
Insurance and Billing 480-301-7033
800-603-0558 (outside Phoenix)
International Patients Center 480-301-7101
International Patients
Center Fax
480-301-9310
Medical Records Requests Fax for Arizona 480-301-7282
Records request form - Arizona Patients Only (PDF)
Mayo Clinic Hospital
5777 East Mayo Boulevard
Phoenix, AZ 85054
General Number 480-515-6296
Hearing Impaired (TDD) 480-342-2660
480-342-1882
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Florida - Jacksonville

Mayo Clinic
4500 San Pablo Road
Jacksonville, FL 32224
General Number 904-953-2000
Hearing Impaired (TDD) 904-953-2300
Appointment Office 904-953-0853
Appointment Office Fax 904-953-2898
Insurance and Billing 904-953-7058
International Services 904-953-7000
International Services
Fax
904-953-7329
Medical Records Requests Fax for Florida 904-953-2242
Records request form - Florida Patients Only (PDF)
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Minnesota - Rochester

Mayo Clinic
200 First Street S.W.
Rochester, MN 55905
General Number 507-284-2511
General Fax 507-284-0161
Hearing Impaired (TDD) 507-284-9786
Appointment Office 507-538-3270
Insurance and Billing 507-266-5670
International Services 507-284-8884
International Services
Appointments Fax
507-538-7802
Medical Records Requests Fax for Rochester 507-284-0161
Records request form - Rochester Patients Only (PDF)
Rochester Methodist Hospital
201 West Center Street
Rochester, MN 55902
General Number 507-266-7890
Saint Marys Hospital including
Mayo Eugenio Litta Children's Hospital
1216 Second Street S.W.
Rochester, MN 55902
General Number 507-255-5123
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GERD Surgery: Fundoplication [VIDEO]

Fundoplication surgery may be used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms that have not been well controlled by medicines. In fundoplication surgery, the upper curve of the stomach Click here to see an illustration. (the fundus) is wrapped around the esophagus and sewn into place to strengthen the valve between the esophagus and stomach (lower esophageal sphincter).

This 3D medical animation on GERD Surgery shows how the upper portion of the stomach is wrapped around the lower esophagus to strengthen the cardiac sphincter of the stomach. This helps prevent GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), or heartburn. Hiatal hernia repair is also depicted. This involves pulling a portion of the stomach that has protruded from the diaphragm back into place.

 
Source: http://www.nucleusinc.com/medical-animation

Surgery may be an option when:
  • Treatment with medicines does not completely relieve a person's symptoms, and the remaining symptoms are proved to be caused by reflux of stomach juices.
  • A person does not want or, because of side effects, a person is not able to take medicines over an extended period of time to control his or her GERD symptoms.
  • Along with reflux a person has symptoms such as asthma, hoarseness, or cough that do not adequately improve when treated with medicines.
Read more:

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease  www.digestivediseases.com
GERD includes all the symptoms that result from ferux

of gastric content into the esophagus

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Invasive Surgery Procedure for Chronic Heartburn [VIDEO]

For most people, heartburn is a treatable symptom. Frequent heartburn may indicate acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD. When treatment doesn't work and heartburn is severe despite lifestyle changes, surgery may be an option. It may also be an option if GERD causes other medical problems. Minimally invasive procedures using endoscopy are also available to treat acid reflux.

For most people, heartburn is a treatable symptom. Frequent heartburn may indicate acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD. When treatment doesn't work and heartburn is severe despite lifestyle changes, surgery may be an option. It may also be an option if GERD causes other medical problems. Minimally invasive procedures using endoscopy are also available to treat acid reflux.

Most people, if not everyone, considering surgery for GERD will first undergo endoscopy. Many will also have tests to check the muscle function of the esophagus. These tests can include esophageal manometry and esophageal motility studies.

The EsophyX TIF procedure reduces hiatal hernia and creates a valve between the stomach and esophagus restoring the natural, physiological anatomy to prevent gastroesophageal reflux. Because the procedure is incisionless, there is reduced pain, reduced recovery and no visible scar. The EsophyX TIF procedure represents the next step in the revolution of surgery. Del Sol brings this technology so that those who have suffered with reflux in the past, can now better enjoy life. 

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Heartburn Drugs Pose Risks - Natural Symptom Relievers

Nexium = Esomeprasole
Have frequent heartburn? Take Nexium. An advertising blitz for that little purple pill helped it become the No. 2 best-selling prescription drug in the U.S., with sales of $6.3 billion last year—and let's not forget the billions spent on its over-the-counter cousin, Prilosec.

Now, though, researchers are warning that this category of heartburn drugs, called proton pump inhibitors, may do more harm than good, at least for people with garden-variety heartburn. Previous research has shown that they also increase the likelihood of contracting pneumonia.

For everyone else, however, "there's no question that these drugs will relieve indigestion and reflux," says Katz, "but, beyond symptom relief, there's no long-term benefit to taking them, while there are some long-term risks." One study found a 74 percent increase in risk of infection with a harmful intestinal bacteria called Clostridium difficile for those taking a daily prescription-strength PPI, while another found a 25 percent increased risk of fractures in postmenopausal women who used PPI's. Both findings were considered to be modest increases in risk—but still enough, says Katz, to encourage folks with mild heartburn to forgo the drugs and double their efforts to make symptom-relieving lifestyle changes such as these:

1. Avoid heartburn-triggering foods. These vary from person to person, but common offenders include orange juice, chocolate, tomato sauce, spicy foods, mint, garlic, and vinegar. Fatty, greasy foods, like cheeseburgers and fries, are also heartburn instigators.

2. Stay upright for a few hours after you eat. Sitting up works with gravity to keep food and stomach acid from flowing up into your esophagus. Better yet, move about a bit to help speed digestion. "Our grandparents had it right when they headed out for a walk after a large meal," he says.

3. But abstain from exercise right after eating. Intense workouts slow digestion, making reflux more likely. Better to exercise first thing in the morning or a few hours after a meal. If you still experience heartburn symptoms after a workout, drink extra water. Staying hydrated helps improve digestion to keep symptoms at bay.

4. Eat smaller meals. To avoid heartburn, aim to eat up to six mini-meals a day, as opposed to three large ones. The worst? Eating a large meal right before bed. Try to abstain from food or drinks within an hour or two of bedtime. Even a tall glass of water before lying down can trigger symptoms in susceptible individuals.

5. Go easy on caffeine and alcohol—and avoid cigarettes. All three can relax the esophageal sphincter muscle, which normally keeps stomach acid from splashing up into the esophagus. Carbonated beverages can also cause this problem.

6. Don't eat too quickly. Try chewing slowly and putting your fork down between bites. Hot soups are a good appetizer because they take longer to consume.

7. Wear looser-fitting clothes. Tight belts, waistbands, and pantyhose constrict the stomach, sometimes triggering reflux.

8. Find ways to relax. Stress may increase stomach acids, raising the likelihood of heartburn.

9. Aim to lose a few extra pounds. The pressure of excess weight - especially around the abdomen- increases the chance that stomach acid will backwash into the esophagus.

10. Try chewing gum. This can boost the production of saliva, which neutralizes stomach acid.
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