Medications that most effectively reduce and can often times eliminate secretion of stomach acid and can also increase the strength of the LES muscle.
Located at the lower end of the esophagus, the LES muscle, or the lower esophageal sphincter, is meant to only open when food or liquid is passing into the stomach.
However, sometimes the LES muscle is too weak to stay completely closed and this is what allows the regurgitation of food and liquid back into the esophagus causing acid reflux disease or GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Medications such as Reglan and Urecholine are used for acid reflux disease treatment because they are designed to effectively reduce stomach acid but they are most noted for their effectiveness in increasing the strength of the LES muscles.
Another type of acid reflux disease treatment is surgery.
The surgery performed is known as endoscopic surgery and it is performed on patients that are dependent on acid reflux medications and have made a choice to seek a more invasive and often times curative therapy.
Normally surgery is a last resort and the patient must undergo an extensive evaluation that will include combined pH-impedance testing assessing nonacid as well as acid reflux. Acid reflux disease treatment surgery is meant to strengthen the LES muscle thereby preventing the regurgitation of stomach acid into the esophagus.
This surgery has a high success rate and it generally is reported to greatly relieve severe acid reflux disease.
The surgery is typically performed using a laparoscopic technique, where the surgery is performed through tiny holes in the belly button and upper abdomen. The recovery time is much quicker when the laparoscopic technique is used.
However, the surgery is still serious and invasive and will require general anesthesia. Making the decision to have surgery to treat acid reflux disease is a serious decision and all other treatment options should be tried first before you make the decision to have surgery.
Acid reflux disease treatment can, in many cases, be effectively treated with medications.
However, if medications ultimately fail to resolve your acid reflux disease or GERD, then perhaps you should discuss the surgery option with your healthcare provider. Don’t give up… there are many choices for acid reflux disease treatment… one of which is bound to work for you.