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New Advice on Treating GERD: Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Reports on the Latest Research
New York, NY (PRWEB) March 27, 2008 -- Johns Hopkins Health Alerts has just published a review of the new GERD guidelines, for safe, effective treatment of your acid reflux.
Treating GERD Effectively
There are four types of treatments for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): lifestyle measures, medication, surgery, and endoscopic procedures.
Why it is important to treat GERD
Treating GERD is important. Untreated GERD can lead to serious complications, such as esophageal ulcers (nonhealing mucosal defects), esophageal strictures, Barrett's esophagus (a disorder of the cells lining the esophageal mucosa, which may lead to cancer), and even esophageal cancer.
Lifestyle changes to treat GERD
Doctors often recommend lifestyle changes as the first-line treatment for acid reflux. These measures can include elevating the head of the bed during sleep, not eating late at night, and avoiding alcohol or spicy foods.
New findings on effective treatments for GERD
However, a new study reported in "The Archives of Internal Medicine" (Volume 166, page 965) shows that NOT ALL of these changes are helpful in relieving GERD symptoms, and some may be unnecessarily restrictive.
Researchers looked at the results of 100 studies conducted on various lifestyle measures for GERD. Only losing weight and elevating the head of the bed showed a CLEAR BENEFIT in well-designed studies.
Other measures not found to be effective
In comparison, there was little evidence to support avoiding many suspected GERD triggers, such as alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, spicy foods, citrus, carbonated beverages, fatty foods, and mint. The same was true for sleeping on your left side or avoiding food late at night.
Although there was evidence that some of these substances and practices can cause GERD symptoms, evidence was lacking that avoiding them will relieve symptoms.
Bottom line advice on treating GERD
However, if you experience worsening GERD symptoms after eating certain foods or drinking specific beverages you should probably avoid them. In addition, you should certainly give lifestyle changes a chance before trying medication to relieve your GERD symptoms.
For the latest health alerts on GERD (acid reflux), sour stomach, and other digestive disorders, , please visit the Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Digestive Disorders Topic Page at:
Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Digestive Disorders (http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/alerts_index/digestive_health/19-1.html)
This article is exceprted from the annual Johns Hopkins White Paper: Digestive Disorders. For more information about this book, please visit:
Johns Hopkins White Paper: Digestive Disorders (http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/white_papers/digestive_health_wp/digital08_landing.html)
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Exercise for a Healthy Heart
Do you exercise every day? If you want to live a long, healthy life, maybe you should.A recent study by Timothy Wessel, a physician at the University of Florida, indicates one of the strongest risk factors for developing heart disease is inactivity – even more so than being overweight.
Leading Exercise Scientist and Author Craig Harper Reveals Healthy Foods That Aren't (Healthy)
As research suggests, Australia is fast becoming one of the fattest nations in the world. According to Craig Harper (B.Ex.Sci), motivational speaker and author, "we're still missing the point when it comes to creating permanent change in our lives and change in a practical and effective manner." It seems we're more educated, more equipped and have more resources than ever before but the reality is -- we're also fatter and unhappier than we've ever been.
Exercise Essential Before Gastric Bypass, Says Pacific Bariatric Surgical Medical Group
New studies have confirmed that even small to moderate amounts of exercise could help overweight and obese women improve their overall health. This research comes as no surprise to physicians, who have long ascribed to the idea that even minimal activity is better than none at all.
Physical Health is Attainable Through Proper Nutrition and Exercise
Obesity is epidemic in this country for both children and adults. The invention of television, video games, and convenient appliances help to influence us to be sedentary.
Activity + Poor Food Choices = Non Healthy Lifestyle
One of the biggest misconceptions people have today is what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. Just because you exercise does not mean you are healthy.
Nutrition and Wellness For a Healthy Lifestyle
We all know that nutrition comes from eating the right kinds of foods in the right amounts Wellness within us comes from knowing about nutrition and implementing it into our lives
Angie Best launches Cosmetic Surgery Diet and Exercise Plan With the Harley Medical Group
The Harley Medical Group teams up with Angie Best to launch the cosmetic surgery diet and exercise plan to help ensure patients are physically prepared for surgery and heal faster.
Nutrition, Diet, and Exercise
Whether you are trying to lose weight or live an active healthy life style, nutrition and exercise are vital to your health. We have become as a whole in the western culture, a couch potato, slow moving, over weight and flaccid society.
Health Tips For Busy People: Healthy Diet & Exercise In the Office
Many women's lifestyle magazines frustrate us by providing exercise regimens for work and then adding: "You can do this exercise in your office!" What about those of us who work in a cube or other small space (with no floor space for Pilates-style stretches) that's not very private (do you really want your boss to wander by right when you're doing jumping jacks?). Even if you are cube-confined, you can maintain your health in a cube.
Diet and Exercise Website Launches New Weight Loss Products to Help Hispanics Fight Obesity
Today, MiDieta, the only weight loss diet and exercise program on the Internet, designed exclusively for the Hispanic/Latin population, announced that they have launched a new line of nutritional supplements.
