Acid Reflux Specialist

What causes heartburn and acid reflux?

Heartburn refers to the burning pain you feel in your chest when you have acid reflux. Acid reflux occurs when gastric acid comes out of your stomach and goes up into the esophagus, which is the tube that carries everything you consume from your throat to your stomach.

A hiatal hernia can cause acid reflux, but it’s most often the result of a weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES is a round muscle that opens to let food go into your stomach and closes to keep all of the contents inside the stomach.

When the LES weakens, your stomach contents regurgitate into the esophagus. If you have frequent and ongoing bouts of reflux and heartburn, you have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

What symptoms develop if I have acid reflux?

Heartburn is the most common symptom of acid reflux. You may also experience:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Pain when swallowing
• Dry or chronic cough
• Hoarseness
• Laryngitis
• A sensation of a lump in your throat
  
  

It’s important to seek treatment for persistent acid reflux. The stomach acid gradually damages your esophagus and may cause precancerous changes in the esophageal lining.

How are heartburn and acid reflux diagnosed?

Your evaluation may include:

• Upper endoscopy to examine the lining of your esophagus and stomach
• pH studies to evaluate the amount of acid in your esophagus
• Manometry to measure the function of the esophagus
• Swallow studies to diagnose a hiatal hernia
  
  

During an endoscopy, your provider can biopsy abnormal tissues found in your esophagus.

How are heartburn and acid reflux treated?

The first line of treatment includes over-the-counter or prescription medications such as antacids and proton pump inhibitors. Antacids neutralize stomach acid, while PPIs improve heartburn by reducing the amount of acid produced by your stomach.

If your acid reflux doesn’t improve with medication, the next step is surgery to repair the problem. 

What type of surgery treats heartburn and acid reflux?

Dr. Madni often performs a procedure called Nissen fundoplication anti-reflux surgery. During this procedure, she creates a new valve at the top of your stomach by wrapping part of the stomach around itself. The new valve allows food to get through while stopping stomach acid from going up into the esophagus. 

Dr. Madni does your Nissen fundoplication using minimally invasive techniques. She may perform a traditional laparoscopy or use the da Vinci® robotic assistance.

You follow a soft-food diet for 2-4 weeks after your surgery to allow the tissues to heal. Once your recovery is complete, you can eat a normal diet, and you no longer need to worry about acid reflux or heartburn. 

If you need relief from heartburn and acid reflux, call Dina Madni, MD, or schedule an appointment online today.