‘What’s Up Doc’ is a health column in association with Spire Gatwick Park, your local private hospital, which gives you the opportunity to ask questions regarding general health and wellbeing. Answers are provided weekly from our specialist consultants at Spire Gatwick Park Hospital.
Heartburn – annoying symptom or sign of something more?
Heartburn (or acid reflux) can be very uncomfortable but, arguably, occasional symptoms are normal. If you over-eat or drink excess alcohol on a night out, then the burning symptoms might be expected. However, symptoms on a daily basis that start to affect your day-to-day activities are certainly not normal and need attention.
Symptoms vary between patients and can include burning in the middle of the chest, foul acidic taste in the mouth or night time cough as the acid comes up the gullet and spills over into the lungs. Often associated with heartburn is what we call “volume regurgitation” – this is where the stomach contents can come up into the mouth when bending forward or lying down. Both of these symptoms need attention.
The problem is that long term acid in the gullet can cause damage, which left unchecked, can cause a change in the lining of the gullet to what we call “Barrett’s oesophagus”. Patients with this issue have a thirty times increased risk of life threatening cancer of the gullet.
The cause of the acid reflux or volume regurgitation is usually a “hiatus hernia” where part of the stomach has pushed up through the diaphragm through a natural hole into the chest. After recognition of the problem, attendance at your GP is crucial. The first thing to try is lifestyle modifications which may include measures such as stopping smoking, avoiding trigger foods or alcohol.
If these don’t make a significant difference then medication is the next step. If you do not wish to take long term medication or if the medication fails to control the symptoms then you may need to be referred for a surgical opinion. There is also a revolutionary treatment called “LINX” with fewer side effects than traditional surgery. The LINX system is a string of magnetic beads that are placed around the lower end of the gullet to create a new sphincter. Results of both surgery and LINX are phenomenal and can stop the symptoms instantly.
Mr Simon Monkhouse is a consultant upper GI and weight loss surgeon and offers appointments at Spire Gatwick Park Hospital. To book an appointment at Spire Gatwick Park Hospital call 01293 778 906 or email info@spiregatwick.com