Of all ailments, heartburn ranks as one of the most common.
“There are more people on medications for heartburn than any other medication out there,” Jody Mickley, a registered nurse at Knox Community Hospital’s Heartburn Treatment Center, told the Mount Vernon News.
Heartburn is also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.
“It’s a condition caused by the acids in the stomach not staying where they need to be and going up into the esophagus,” said Mickley. “People will describe their symptoms as a burning feeling in their chest or a sour taste in their mouth. Some people have pain with it. Some people can even have difficulty swallowing or a chronic cough from it.”
Heartburn can strike immediately after a meal or later when you are lying down, Mickley said.
The good news is that there are now many treatments for heartburn, including surgery, that are much more effective than the old-fashioned remedies like baking soda.
Heartburn specialists at Knox Community Hospital start with a thorough assessment of patients.
“We thoroughly evaluate the stomach and the esophagus to see what’s going on in there,” Mickley said. That could include an endoscopy, a procedure that uses a long flexible tube with a camera attached to it.
Doctors can also insert a capsule that sends out a signal on how much regurgitation a patient has.
“It tells us how many episodes they have of acid going up into their esophagus,” said Mickley.
Prescription medication can also help relieve heartburn, and surgery may be an option.
“Part of the stomach is wrapped around the esophagus to re-recreate that muscle tightness that keeps the acid down in the stomach, where it is supposed to be,” said Mickley. “Many patients are candidates for some form of surgical treatment. If they want to try medications, they can try that first. If they don’t provide enough relief, the majority of patients find relief for their symptoms with the surgical options.”
After finding relief from heartburn, patients feel and even eat differently.
"They can eat things that they haven't been able to eat for years," said Mickley. “I tell them that within 30 days after having surgery if they want spaghetti or pizza or Mexican, they will be able to eat it."
Provider referrals are not needed in order to schedule an appointment at the treatment center.
“Patients can call us directly,” said Mickley.
For more information, call the Heartburn Treatment Center at 740-393-9735
