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) Is ineffective oesophageal motility associated with
IEM is associated with an increased acid clearance times in the distal oesophagus. Gastropharyngeal reflux causes supraoesophageal manifestations such as globus, chronic cough, hoarseness, asthma, chronic sinusitis, or other otorhinolaryngologic diseases. It might be hypothesised that patients with IEM would be unable to clear refluxed acid; this would lead to a prolonged oesophageal dwell time of the refluxed acid and then the refluxed acid would reach to a higher level. As a result, it would be presumed that patients with IEM have more gastropharyngeal reflux than those patients with normal oesophageal motility.A research article published on 21 October 2008 in the World Journal of Gastroenterology addresses this question. The research team led by Prof. Kim from Pusan National University Hospital evaluated the association between IEM and gastropharyngeal reflux in a large series of patients who underwent ambulatory 24-hour dual-probe pH monitoring for the evaluation of supraoesophageal symptoms. More>>
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) Dr. Murray Feingold: Burning issues of reflux
In a recent article, GE reflux was defined as the presence of two or more episodes of heartburn a week. The symptoms are due the acid contents of the stomach traveling up to the esophagus as a result of reflux. But symptoms other than heartburn may also occur.A chronic cough is frequently associated with GE reflux. So is hoarseness and frequent throat clearing. It may also cause an increase in asthma symptoms and erosion of dental enamel.
Chronic inflammation of the esophagus due to GE reflux can result in scarring of the esophagus and formation of excessive scar tissue. This can cause narrowing of the esophagus and difficulty swallowing, or dysphagia.
Studies have also shown an increase incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus in individuals with GE reflux. More>>
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) Feeling the burn
Indeed, the uptick of diagnoses in kids and babies is “really scary," says Seattle physician Tom Vaughan, an expert on acid reflux and professor at the University of Washington. Two decades ago, it was almost unheard of. Now the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), the strongest acid-blocking drugs, for infants like Cooper—who might once have been dismissed as “colicky"—has soared by 750 per cent in the U.S. in the past decade; a range of reflux drugs have been approved for use in kids under age 11. This year, a lime-flavoured, “kid's-strength" version of the GERD prescription drug Nexium will hit the market. “More and more kids are being treated with PPIs and getting anti-reflux surgery," says Dr. Douglas Corley of Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Oakland, Calif. “And no one has any idea what the long-term effects are."Unfortunately, ignoring the symptoms—which for kids can include coughing and tummy aches—has its perils too, notes Gail Attara, executive director of the Canadian Society of Intestinal Research. More>>
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) New Test for Chronic Cough
Pulmonologists like Dr. Hahn say the four main causes of chronic cough are post-nasal drip, acid reflux, asthma and a type of non-asthmatic bronchitis. With just a few breaths, the new test allows doctors to find out which patients suffer from two treatable conditions, asthma and bronchitis. "[By doing] this very simple, non-invasive test up front, we were able to find patients who were responsive to inhaled corticosteroids as a treatment for their cough," Dr. Hahn said. Rueggs sees firsthand how this test helps her patients. "They think it's wonderful there's another test that can really zero in on their diagnosis," Rueggs said.Click here to Go Inside This Science or contact:
Lisa Lucier Public Affairs Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN (507) 284-5005 newsbureau@mayo.edu . More>> - (
) The People's Pharmacy: The scoop on floating poop
A: Acid-suppressing drugs such as Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec and Protonix can relieve reflux. Some people with this condition develop other symptoms, such as asthma or cough, as a result of acid irritation. If your medicine is not working, your condition might be aggravated.You have discovered one of the pitfalls of using an online pharmacy. Not all "Canadian" pharmacies are in Canada. Some online drugstores source their medicines from around the world to get a better price. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has no control over the quality of such medicines.
Q: I had been suffering in silence as my hair changed its texture from wavy to straight. Then my fingernails began to deteriorate. I read in your column that too much selenium in the diet could affect hair and nails adversely. More>>