Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is a common condition where acid from the stomach leaks out into the oesophagus (gullet). The most common cause of GORD is the failure of the lower oesophageal sphincter, which acts like a valve, which should open to let food into the stomach and then close to prevent acid leaking out. In GORD, this sphincter doesn’t close correctly, allowing the acid to leak out of the stomach. You may be at risk of suffering from GORD if you are overweight, eat a high-fat diet, or are pregnant.
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There are a number of common (and not so common) symptoms of acid reflux:
· Excessive saliva – similar to how our mouths fill with saliva before we vomit, your body may be trying to wash out an irritant in your oesophagus
· Heartburn – especially after eating
· Hoarse voice – if stomach acid seeps into your oesophagus, it can irritate your vocal chords and make your voice sound hoarse
· Nausea – especially if this occurs after eating meals
· Pain or difficulty swallowing, resulting in a sore throat
· Pain when lying down – the acid is more likely to escape into your oesophagus when you lie down or bend over
· Taste – you may have an unpleasant, bitter taste in your mouth, caused by the stomach acid coming back up into your mouth
If you suffer from any of these symptoms, visit your GP who will make a diagnosis and advise on the best form of treatment. Testing for the disease usually involves a long, thin flexible tube called an endoscope, which will be gently lowered down your throat so that any acid damage to the oesophagus can be seen. If you do have GORD, there’s a step-by-step approach for treating it—usually beginning with simple treatments, such as diet changes, and over-the-counter antacid medicines.
If these are ineffective, there are more extensive treatments available, such as the LINX Reflux Management System described in the case study opposite.
Case study
How the LINX Reflux Management System bought relief for one sufferer of the condition known as GORD or reflux
A persistent cough may not initially lead you to think you are suffering from acid reflux, but GORD (Gastro-oesophageal Reflux Disease) can manifest itself in a variety of unexpected ways. Pauline Saunders discovered this after suffering from a cough for sixteen years. Pauline, a HR manager from Oxted, was barely able to hold a conversation and, on occasion, felt like she was going to vomit due to her debilitating cough. After years of being given various asthma inhalers and medications that didn’t work for her, Pauline eventually underwent further tests and was diagnosed with reflux. Pauline was relieved to finally have a diagnosis, but her nightmare was far from over.
52-year-old Pauline was prescribed a medication called a Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI), which is generally prescribed for those suffering from reflux. PPIs work by stopping the cells in the stomach from producing too much acid, reducing reflux-related symptoms, such as heartburn. Unfortunately for Pauline, the medication made her feel unwell and, despite trying several types, she was unable to continue with it. Pauline explains: ‘I did not for a second think that my cough could be due to reflux; I had no other symptoms at all at that point. It was eventually diagnosed as reflux and I was put on PPIs, which helped with the cough but bizarrely gave me indigestion. These were changed several times but each type of medication made me feel incredibly unwell. After several tests, it was found that I had a hiatus hernia. I really didn’t want to spend the rest of my life feeling this ill and being on medication.’
PPIs are usually the first port of call for anyone who goes to their GP with reflux, however, for some people they are ineffective or unsuitable. Clinical data and recent studies also highlight that long-term use may cause health problems, and that people should not readily accept that this is a medication for life, instead they should be looking for an alternative, long-term treatment for their reflux condition.
Pauline did just that, and was advised that she was suitable for the revolutionary and minimally invasive LINX Reflux Management System procedure—a device about the size of a ten pence piece, which comprises of tiny magnets encased in titanium that is implanted around the oesophagus during laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery. Upon swallowing, the magnetic bond temporarily breaks to allow food and drink to pass normally, but then the magnets close, restoring the body’s natural barrier to the reflux of acid and bile.
Pauline underwent the operation, and has found that her cough has now disappeared. Pauline, whose other long-term treatment option was a fundoplication procedure (a major operation that involves wrapping a portion of the stomach around the oesophagus to reinforce the weakened lower oesophageal sphincter) concludes: ‘I have avoided major surgery, for which I’m grateful, and also avoided a lifetime of medication and feeling unwell. The LINX Reflux Management System is an incredible procedure and I have already recommended it to my mother-in-law!’
For more information on the LINX Reflux Management System and to find out if it is available on your NHS Trust or who your nearest surgeon is, visit toraxmedical.co.uk/linx
