Page 12 - Boca Club News - May '22

Page 12, Boca Club News
Medical Matters:

GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease)

By Richard Nagler, M.D., a member a possible factor in cancer of the stomach) are all effective. more frequently and avoiding fatty, fried foods, gravies,
of Broken Sound Club and retired Stronger acid inhibitors that in addition help heal damaged oils, certain dairy products such as cheese, whole milk and
physician. After graduating from the tissue are Proton pump inhibitors, such as Prevacid, Prilosic sour cream, spicy foods, chocolate, tomato sauces, garlic,
University of Pennsylvania and New and Nexium. For more serious cases where medications onions, coffee, carbonated beverages and citrus fruits is
York University’s School of Medicine, are not effective enough, surgery is a consideration. recommended. Sitting upright and staying that way for at
Dr. Nagler served his internship Fundoplication (TIF) is done laproscopically, where a new least an hour after eating, avoiding any food intake before
and residency at Baltimore City LES valve mechanism is created by wrapping the upper bedtime, and waiting three hours after eating before going
Hospital and Johns Hopkins. He part of the stomach (fundus) around the lower esophagus to bed is strongly advised. These patients should not wear
followed that with a Fellowship in to reinforce the LES. There is a LINX implant, which is a clothes that are tight fitting around the abdomen, and raise
Gastroenterology at Yale University School of Medicine, ring of tiny magnets strong enough to keep the LES closed the head of the bed by 6 to 8 inches not with pillows,
and was then Chief of Gastroenterology at Fitzimmons to prevent reflux, but weak enough to allow food to enter but with blocks under the bed posts. Stopping smoking,
General Army Hospital in Denver. He returned to the Yale the stomach. Often, a hiatal hernia repair will reestablish limiting alcohol and taking antacid medications regularly
Medical School for one year as an Assistant Professor of normal function of the LES. is important.
Medicine before opening his own successful private practice There are measures that can be employed to prevent
in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. During that GERD. Maintaining a healthy weight, eating small meals
time, he also served for ten years as Chief of Medicine at
Huntington Hospital in Huntington, N.Y.
the esophagus propelled by gravity and peristalsis (a Looking for Enjoyable Ways
When we swallow food or drink, it passes down

progressive contraction of the esophagus) until it reaches
allowing passage of the contents to enter the stomach, and to Burn?
the LES (lower esophageal sphincter). The sphincter opens,
then closes in order to prevent regurgitation back into the
esophagus. If the LES fails, stomach contents including acid By Beth Meirav, CSP 3. Donate blood
released to initiate digestion will flow up the esophagus as One of my amazing clients Ok, perhaps not as fun, but you are helping someone
far as the throat, causing the patient to experience heartburn. at my natural weight loss center else so ... bonus points!
It is often associated with a hiatus hernia where the upper in Boca Raton mentioned the
part of the stomach is herniated into the chest, which renders other day that laughter burns 4. Cook for a bunch of friends
the LES essentially ineffective in preventing regurgitation. more calories than rowing. The chopping, the bending and lifting (placing things
This phenomenon of acid reflux and heartburn, I thought that’s brilliant (of in the oven), setting the table, stirring ... all of these
when it occurs occasionally, is very common and of no course I verified the accuracy things burn calories while preparing for a fun evening
consequence, but when it occurs more than twice a week of that information)! I decided ahead. Tip: Don’t drink alcohol while cooking because
and those afflicted are taking antacids for relief (20% of the to look into other unique and then you are defeating the purpose of this calorie burner.
population) then that person is considered to have GERD. fun ways to burn calories.
Patients with GERD need to be treated professionally not Hope you enjoy ... 5. Give someone you love a massage
just for effective relief of symptoms, but because GERD Burn 100 calories in 24 minutes. This should lead to
can lead to more serious problems. 1. Laugh until you cry and burn 120 calories an hour! #2 above so extra bonus calories for combining!
The major symptom is heartburn, which is a persistent I am totally serious about this. Put a really funny
burning sensation in the middle of the chest, along with acid movie on Netflix. Pull up some YouTube videos. I am Good luck and have some fun!
regurgitation occurring mostly at night. Some patients with a HUGE Jim Gaffigan fan. Check him out!
GERD do not have heartburn, but experience chest pain, If you need some help or would like someone to hold
hoarseness, trouble swallowing, feel like food is stuck in the 2. Sex! you accountable (in a kind and caring manner), then give
throat, have a chocking sensation, tightness or soreness in Men burn on average 101 calories per hour and 69 me a call/text 917-640-8001. I can guide you through
the throat, a dry cough, increased salivation, and bad breath. calories for women. If you can’t last the hour then it the process of getting healthy and feeling like yourself
Many experience regurgitation of food into the mouth. breaks down to 3.6 per minute. By the way, orgasms again. At Sadkhin Therapy we use acupressure balls (it’s
It is important to differentiate chest pain from GERD can amount to an additional 60 to 100 calories (google patented!) to control hunger and flush out the visceral
compared to a heart attack. With GERD, chest pain is it, I am not making this up). Go find a partner! belly fat that’s causing you harm. Get healthy today!
described as an uncomfortable burning sensation sometimes
associated with pain that can be severe and even radiate
up to the neck and throat, but usually relieved by ingesting
antacids. In contrast, chest pain from a heart attack—while Paid Advertisement
it also often radiates to the neck, jaw and arms—is usually
associated with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea,
dizziness, fatigue and anxiety.
Those at risk are the obese, pregnant women, smokers
and those taking certain medications such as aspirin,
NSAIDS, osteoporosis medications, certain high blood
pressure medications like beta blockers and calcium ARCHIVE GALLERIES
channel blockers, anti-anxiety drugs such as Valium, iron
supplements, antidepressants, antibiotics like tetracycline
and potassium supplements. There is a significant
association between GERD and asthma: 75% of patients PAYS HIGHER PRICES FOR FINE ART AND ANTIQUES
with asthma have GERD, which makes the symptoms of
asthma worse.
Persistent acid reflux can cause inflammation of the • Oil Paintings • Sterling Silver • Collectibles
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complications such as an esophageal ulcer with severe • Tapestries • Sculptures • Orientalia
burning, chest pain, bleeding and trouble swallowing.
A stricture may develop from scarring of the damaged • Fine Furniture • Bronzes • Tiffany Items
esophageal lining, narrowing it and blocking passage of • Service Plates • Porcelain • Clocks
foods from getting down the esophagus into the stomach.
Ten percent of patients with GERD with long-term damage
develop Barrett’s esophagus, where the lining of it is We Also Purchase Men’s And Ladies’ Items Including:
thickened and inflamed. This is a serious risk factor for
developing into adenocarcinoma. • Old Watches • Cufflinks • Smoking Items • Coins • Antique Jewelry
GERD is diagnosed by evaluating the classical • Designer Handbags • Fine Modern Jewelry • Vintage Costume Jewelry
symptoms via the patient’s medical history. Endoscopy of
the esophagus with a biopsy will confirm the diagnosis.
Monitoring esophageal PH with an impedance monitor or One Piece Or Entire Contents Purchased
a Bravo wireless device detects the presence of acid in the
esophagus. An esophageal motility study, where a thin tube CALL NOW FOR A FREE CONSULTATION, NO OBLIGATION
is inserted through the throat into the esophagus measures
the strength of its contractions and assesses the function of
the LES, which fails to function properly in GERD.
The mainstay of treatment is antacids, which relieve CASH 561-498-7536 COURTEOUS
symptoms by neutralizing acid. Tums, Mylanta, Rolaids PAYMENTS IN HOME
and Maalox are good examples. There are H2 receptor UPON REQUEST SERVICE
blockers that diminish the production of acid in the stomach.
Tagamet, Pepsid and Zantac (which has been implicated as