MDNews - Long Island

GA STROE SOPH AGE A L REFLU X DISE A SE (GERD) affects approximately 30% of the population in the United States. In recent years, researchers have increasingly focused on improving treatments for GERD, as the condition can have a negative effect on patients' overall quality of life and increase the risk of serious complications such as severe chest pain, esophageal stricture, Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer. Despite this urgency, physicians have faced hurdles in finding the most effective treatments for their patients. This is due in part to the wide range of symptoms that can sometimes make it difficult to diagnose and even more difficult to successfully treat. Additionally, some surgical procedures, while effective, can trigger side effects that continue to hinder patients' quality of life. However, some new therapies display encouraging results. DIET AND LIFESTYLE CHANGES CAN CONTROL WOMEN'S SYMPTOMS A recent Nurses' Health Study II revealed that five specific lifestyle factors can prevent or drastically reduce GERD symptoms and eliminate the need for medication in some female patients. The results of the study, published as a research letter in JAMA Internal Medicine in January 2021, confirm that lifestyle and eating habits have a significant impact on the disease. "GERD is a very common problem among women and can have a profoundly negative impact on qua lity of life," says senior author Andrew T. Chan, MD, Professor of Medicine and gastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. "Although there are effective medications available for treatment, many women are worried about taking them long-term. This motivated us to determine if we could identify a role for modifying diet and lifestyle to prevent reflux symptoms." The Nurses' Health Study II is an ongoing, nationwide study that began in 1989, with participants returning detailed biennial questionnaires on various health issues. For this study, nearly 43,000 women answered questions on GERD symptoms and lifestyle factors every four years, from 2005 through 2017. The analysis concluded that following an anti-reflux lifestyle can reduce the incidence of GERD symptoms by 40%. This lifestyle includes: + Drinking no more than two cups of coffee, tea or soda per day + Eating a healthy diet + Maintaining a healthy body weight, defined as a BMI of 18.5 to less than 25.0 + Not smoking + Staying physically active, with at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per day BY ELESA SWIRGSDIN RECENT TRIALS AND STUDIES HAVE LED TO PROMISING INSIGHTS AND NE W OPTIONS FOR THE MANAGEMENT AND TRE ATMENT OF GERD FOR SOME PATIENTS. Advances in Treatment and Prevention GERD: 0 6 ❱❱❱❱❱ C O V E R F E A T U R E

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