GERD is an ongoing condition in which acid from the stomach flows into the esophagus. While many people have occasional bouts of acid reflux and heartburn, individuals with GERD experience it several times a week or more.

Over time, GERD not only impacts quality of life, it can also be damaging to the body: when stomach acid continually washes into the esophagus, it can cause tissue damage that can lead to esophageal cancer. GERD can also cause ear, nose and throat (ENT) and respiratory problems such as coughing and chronic sore throat.

What Causes GERD

GERD can be caused by the improper functioning or weakening of a sphincter (valve) either at the top of the stomach or the bottom of the esophagus. When this happens, acid is released into the esophagus. Symptoms can include heartburn, belching, bad breath, nausea, difficulty swallowing and more.

Sometimes people can develop GERD by practicing unhealthy nutrition or lifestyle habits — which also means, by changing these habits, they can reduce their risk of developing GERD. GERD occurs more commonly in people who:

• Are overweight, which puts pressure on the abdomen and can cause a valve to leak
• Smoke or are frequently exposed to secondhand smoke
• Take medications such as antihistamines, some asthma drugs and antidepressants

8 Tips to Avoid GERD, Acid Reflux Symptoms

Many of the habits that lead to GERD happen during the winter holidays when food and sweet treats are abundant, making it easier to overeat. Here are some tips to help you avoid GERD symptoms over the holidays:

1. Wear loose clothes and avoid belts or anything that is tight around your abdomen.
2. Sit up straight when eating. If you hunch over, it may cause the esophageal valve to open, releasing burning acid into your food pipe.
3. Mentally prepare yourself before you face the dinner table. Decide what and how much you will eat.
4. Chew your food well, eat slowly and stop when you’re full.
5. Before taking a second helping at a holiday feast, pause for a few minutes. This will give your digestive system a chance to process the food you have already consumed. You may even realize you are too full for seconds.
6. Avoid foods known to cause reflux, such as those that are fatty or fried. Also, avoid eating foods you know are problematic for you personally. Don’t give yourself permission to eat them as a special treat since it is a holiday, or you may just regret it later.
7. Take a walk after your meal and invite a family member to join you. You’ll be helping them avoid GERD, too.
8. Avoid lying down for at least 2-3 hours after eating. Symptoms will worsen if you lie down or bend over.

If you believe you have GERD now, don’t pop just another antacid — schedule an appointment with a doctor. Your doctor can prescribe medications and other therapies that can help you feel better.

Talking about irritable bowel disease (IBD) isn’t easy, especially at a family gathering. There’s no better setting in which to have this conversation though, because IBD runs in families. If your family has a medical history of IBD, make it a point to discuss facts about the disease and explain the importance of treatment.

Here are some answers to questions your family members may ask:

What are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis?

Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are the two most common types of irritable bowel disease, a group of conditions that cause inflammation in the digestive tract. Crohn’s disease can form anywhere along the digestive tract, from the mouth to the anus. However, ulcerative colitis only affects the colon and the rectum.

How do my genes affect my risk of IBD?

Family history of inflammatory bowel disease is the most influential risk factor for developing IBD. About 12 percent of people with Crohn’s disease and about 9 percent of people with ulcerative colitis have a confirmed family history.

Can I calculate my own risk for IBD?

Your risk for IBD depends on which family member is affected. Having a first-degree relative (a mother, father, brother, sister or child) with IBD increases your risk more than having a second-degree relative (uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, grandparent, grandchild or half-sibling) with the disease. If your mother and your father have IBD, you have a one in three chance of being affected. Your risk for IBD is highest if you have three or more relatives who are affected.

Make an Appointment with a Gastroenterologist

Remind your family that anyone can develop IBD, even if they don’t have a family history of the disease. Both conditions can share symptoms of abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, constipation, cramping, weight loss and urgency to move bowels. Encourage your family members to call a gastroenterologist if they have any of these ongoing symptoms or experience changes in bathroom habits. IBD can also increase the risk of colon cancer, so certain family members may need to get a colonoscopy at a younger age. 

By opening up a conversation about family history and IBD, you can contribute to making this season a happy and healthy one for your loved ones.

November is National Family Caregivers Month, a time to recognize family members who help support loved ones. It also provides an opportunity for the aging and physically challenged to ask for caregiving help.    

Why a Colonoscopy Requires a Caregiver

Even if you are in good health, you’ll need to ask for a caregiver for your colonoscopy. Most colonoscopy procedures include sedation or anesthesia to provide comfort and prevent pain. Sedation can make you groggy, uncoordinated and weak. It can feel similar to having too much alcohol because it impairs your ability to react quickly or even stay awake.

Doctors do not recommend patients drive, use power tools, sign legal documents, conduct business or make important decisions until at least one day after sedation. In fact, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) revised their guidelines for monitored sedation to say pre-op assessment must include verification of a caregiver over 18 to drive the patient home.

In our busy society, it isn’t easy to ask for help, even from a family member. However, you should plan to ask a relative or loved one to come with you to your colonoscopy, remain in the facility and drive you home afterward.

Ambulatory Surgery Centers Can Help Coordinate a Caregiver

If you are not able to secure a caregiver for your procedure, you can call your ambulatory surgery center (ASC) to reschedule your appointment for a day that someone can accompany you. This is for your safety and wellbeing. In the instance that you do not have a relative or friend to assist you, call the surgery center and ask for a list of reliable transportation companies who can serve you.

Sometimes it takes courage and humility to request caregiving assistance but be bold and ask a family member or friend to accompany you. A colonoscopy is an essential part of preventative care, so allow your relative to give you the gift of time this month.

Call Your Gastroenterologist

The American Cancer Society recommends all adults who are at average risk for colon cancer begin screening at age 45. If you are at increased risk for colon cancer, you may need to get tested earlier, so talk to your gastroenterologist.

Thanksgiving Day is also Family Health History Day, a day to communicate about chronic conditions like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that can run in families. About 15 million Americans experience heartburn symptoms of chest pain, burning throat and chronic cough on a daily basis, and these warning signs are common indicators of GERD.

GERD May be Genetic

Although most people think certain foods and stressful situations trigger acid reflux, many studies suggest GERD may also have a genetic component. In 1999, the Mayo Clinic studied over 1,500 people in Minnesota and found that participants who had an immediate family member with heartburn or a disease of the stomach or esophagus were twice as likely to experience heartburn or acid reflux.

Chronic heartburn and acid regurgitation may lead to Barrett’s esophagus, a complication of GERD that can evolve into esophageal cancer. Specific gene mutations on chromosomes 6 and 16 have been linked to Barrett’s esophagus, and a 2016 study discovered distinct genetic patterns among GERD, Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer.

Family Health History Conversations Save Lives

You can increase GERD awareness among your family members by initiating a conversation about family health history on Thanksgiving Day. Ask any of your family whether they have experienced heartburn. Mention the symptoms of GERD including:

• Chest pain
• Acid reflux
• Sour taste in the mouth
• Burning in the throat or chest
• Dry cough
• Difficulty swallowing
• Hoarseness
• Sore throat
• Lump in the throat

Remind your family members they can reduce their risk for GERD and GERD-related complications by eating smaller meals, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding heartburn trigger foods.

Visit a Gastroenterologist

Finally, encourage your family members to schedule a visit to a gastroenterologist after the holiday. GERD is a serious health concern, so frequent heartburn should not be ignored. Make this Thanksgiving meaningful and memorable by discussing family health history. Your discussion could help family members get the digestive care they need.

Diabetes and cancer are two of the leading causes of death worldwide. According to statistics from the Global Burden of Disease, deaths related to diabetes increased by 90 percent and colon cancer deaths increased by 57 percent over the past two decades. Colon cancer risk also increased by 27 percent in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The Diabetes-Colon Cancer Connection

Why are diabetes and colon cancer rates increasing? Perhaps we should consider how our society has changed in the past 20 years. As people have become increasingly sedentary and the Western diet has become centered around red meat and processed foods, obesity rates in the United States have skyrocketed. 

Recent studies reveal unhealthy eating, obesity and inactivity contribute to metabolic syndrome, an array of conditions that include:

• Hypertension
• High blood sugar
• Excess body fat around the abdomen
• High cholesterol and triglyceride levels

When these conditions occur together, they increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Colon cancer shares many of these same risk factors like smoking, alcohol use, high-fat diet and sedentary lifestyle.

Research shows a link between diabetes and colon cancer. Patients who had colon cancer and diabetes were more likely to die than patients with colon cancer who did not have diabetes.

Prevent Two Diseases With One List

Colon cancer is mostly preventable, but it is still the third leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the United States. Because diabetes and colon cancer share the same risk factors, you can prevent both diseases by making the same healthy modifications:

1. Do not smoke.

2. Limit alcohol intake.

3. Exercise 60 minutes per day.

4. Eat a diet centered on lean proteins, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

5. Avoid red meat, processed foods and fast food.

6. Maintain a healthy weight, as suggested by your doctor.

Get Screened for Colon Cancer

If you are 45 or older, you should begin preventative colon cancer screening and should have routine screenings every ten years unless your physician advises otherwise. If you are at increased risk for colon cancer, you may need to be screened earlier, so talk with your doctor.

November is National Diabetes Month, so make an appointment with your primary care physician for a wellness screening and diabetes checkup and then call a gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy. Annual check-ups and regular screenings can save your life, so call today.

Smoking and Esophageal Cancer Risk

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of disease and premature death in the United States and is responsible for 29 percent of all cancer deaths. Besides lung cancer, smoking is linked to several cancers of the gastrointestinal tract including cancer of the larynx, mouth, stomach, pancreas, colon and esophagus.

Esophageal cancer is one of the most aggressive and deadly cancers, and smoking is a primary risk factor. The longer you have used cigarettes, cigars, pipes or chewing tobacco, the higher your risk of cancer. You can reduce that risk, however, if you can quit smoking and stick to your commitment.

Join the Great American Smokeout on November 15

The Great American Smokeout is an annual initiative of the American Cancer Society to provide smokers with resources and support to quit smoking. Increased education and awareness over the past few decades have dramatically reduced cigarette smoking, but 40 million Americans still smoke or use tobacco.

This year, the Great American Smokeout will be on November 15, the third Thursday of November. You can participate in this event by planning to quit or committing to create a plan to quit smoking. You can also team up with family members, community groups, local businesses and healthcare providers to put a larger plan into action.

Commit to join the Great American Smokeout and begin a smoke-free life on November 15. When you quit smoking, you’ll also lower your risk for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition characterized by chronic acid reflux.

Visit Your GI Specialist

Make an appointment with your gastroenterologist for a current assessment of your digestive health. Your GI doctor can provide a full examination, suggest diagnostic tests and treatments and support you in your efforts to quit smoking. 

Autumn is here, and it seems every latte, muffin and cookie is pumpkin spiced. While your tongue may crave the sweet, comforting flavors, your sensitive stomach might pay the price with painful acid reflux. 

Create Your Own Pumpkin Spice Fall Foods

Many of your favorite fall foods and drinks are highly processed and contain preservatives and artificial flavors and colors. You can enhance almost any beverage, snack or breakfast item with natural ingredients to make your own pumpkin spice versions that won’t cause heartburn. You’ll need:

• Canned pumpkin puree
• A customized pumpkin spice blend of cinnamon, clove, ginger and nutmeg

Here are a few heartburn-friendly pumpkin spice drinks and snacks you can create at home:

• Pumpkin Spice Latte — Make this fall classic at home by warming some almond milk on the stove. Stir in 1 tablespoon of pumpkin puree, some maple syrup or agave, and a dash of your pumpkin spice blend. Pour into a mug with decaffeinated coffee.
• Pumpkin seeds — Roasted, lightly salted and pleasantly crunchy, pumpkin seeds are a perfect snack. You may also like pepitas, roasted pumpkin seeds with the shells removed. Sprinkle some pumpkin spice blend on the seeds and enjoy.
• Pumpkin spice hummus — Create your own fall hummus with pumpkin puree, chickpeas, tahini, cumin and pumpkin spice blend.
• Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal — Make traditional or steel-cut oat porridge according to package instructions. Add one tablespoon of canned pumpkin, a pinch of salt and a dash of your homemade pumpkin spice blend.
• Pumpkin Yogurt — Add one tablespoon of pumpkin puree to plain yogurt and sweeten with honey or agave. If dairy products aggravate heartburn, try a plant-based yogurt like soy yogurt
• Pumpkin Pancakes or Waffles — Bypass the frozen waffle section at the grocery store and make your own with whole wheat flour, eggs, coconut oil, baking powder, nondairy milk, pumpkin puree and one teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice. Add a little drizzle of maple syrup and breakfast is served!

Call Your Gastroenterologist

If you are experiencing heartburn on a regular basis, make an appointment with a gastroenterologist before the end of the year. Chronic acid reflux is a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a serious health condition that requires prompt treatment. 

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to increase awareness of the second-leading cause of death among women in the United States. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, every two minutes, a woman receives a breast cancer diagnosis, and every 13 minutes, a woman loses her life to breast cancer. There are 3.3 million breast cancer survivors in the United States today, thanks to early detection through mammography.

Early Detection of Colon Cancer Means Early Intervention

Early detection is also important when it comes to colon cancer. A colonoscopy is the most effective colon cancer screening method because it can detect and remove precancerous polyps before they become cancerous.

Researchers estimate between 60 and 90 percent of colon cancer mortality could be prevented if adults were screened at proper intervals. Unfortunately, one out of three Americans is not getting tested, and colon cancer continues to be the third-leading cause of cancer death among men and women.   

Know Your Colonoscopy Age

Preventing colon cancer begins with knowing your individual risk for the disease, which affects your “colonoscopy age.” Your colonoscopy age is the age at which you should get your first colon cancer screening, based on your specific risk factors.

On average, your lifetime risk for developing colon cancer is about one in 20, but factors like age, ethnicity, family history, diet and lifestyle habits can increase your risk. In May 2018, the American Cancer Society revised its recommended age for first-time colon screenings from 50 years of age to 45, but some individuals may need to be screened even earlier.

Know Colon Cancer Symptoms and Get Screened Today

Colon cancer is highly treatable when it is detected in the early stages, so it is essential to know the warning signs of the disease. Common symptoms include rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, cramping, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, nausea and weight loss. Contact your doctor if you have any of these symptoms, and pay attention to changes in your bowel habits. If you develop tarry stools, thin, pencil-like stools or have sensations of incomplete evacuation, call to make an appointment.

Every year, 50,000 Americans will die from colon cancer, a mostly preventable disease. You can stand up against colon cancer by staying informed about your risk and asking your doctor when you should get screened. Take action during Breast Cancer Awareness Month by scheduling a mammogram, colonoscopy and other preventative screenings to promote early detection and intervention. 

Why is early detection so important? Because there is a much greater likelihood that with an early diagnosis, a patient will have:

• Shorter treatment
• Milder treatment
• Fewer side effects
• Less chance that cancer has spread to other parts of the body
• Increased survival rate

Ways to Detect Breast Cancer

Breast cancer cannot be prevented, but you can take steps to help detect it as early as possible through these methods and screenings:

Mammogram: A mammogram is a type of x-ray that allows a healthcare specialist to see if there are any suspicious areas in the breast tissue. The American Cancer Society recommends the following schedule for mammogram screening:

• Age 40-44: Should have the choice to begin having a mammogram every year, if of average risk
• Age 45-54: Should get mammograms every year
• 55 and older: Should get mammograms every two years or every year
• Women at high risk: Should have mammograms as well as MRIs and should discuss this with their doctors

The American Cancer Society also advises breast cancer screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live 10 more years or longer.

Pap Test: During a pap smear, the doctor or gynecologist collects samples of cells from a woman’s cervix. These cells can show abnormalities that indicate an increased risk of developing cervical cancer as well as breast cancer. Both mammograms and Pap tests can detect breast cancer risk before a woman notices any symptoms.

Clinical Breast Examinations: During a woman’s annual health check-up, a doctor will perform a clinical breast examination. During this exam, the doctor will feel each breast to see if there are any changes in size, any lumps or any other abnormalities.

Self-Examination: According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), 70 percent of breast cancer in women under 50 is detected by the women themselves; in women over 50, that percentage is almost half.  For this reason, it is important to perform a breast self-examination each month. For instructions on how and when to perform a breast self-exam, go to U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Self-Awareness: ACOG also recommends breast “self-awareness.” This means developing a sense of what is normal, so if a woman senses something in her breast is not right, she can see a doctor.

Be Aware of Risk Factors

Part of breast cancer awareness is being aware of your own risk. Review the risk categories below and talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns:

Age. The risk of developing breast cancer increases as a woman ages. Approximately 80 percent of the time, it is detected in women who are 50 and older.

• Personal history. If a woman has had breast cancer in one breast, she is at an increased risk of developing cancer in the other.
• Family history. If a woman’s mother, sister or daughter has had breast cancer, it puts her at higher risk.
• Genetic factors. If a woman has a genetic mutation, she is at higher risk.
• Menstruation and child-bearing. Risks are also higher for women who:
  • Had their first period before age 12
  • Went through menopause after age 55
  • Have not given birth to a child

Make a Difference

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Use this opportunity to help spread the word about mammograms, Pap tests, and self-exams. Encourage the people you care about to get screened and share this important message with others!