If you suffer from acid reflux, you know how much it can disrupt your life, to the point that it makes you downright anxious and brings you down emotionally.
You don’t have to “grin and bear it,” especially if the condition morphs into gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This is when you experience acid reflux at least twice a week.
Dr. Ven Kottapalli and our caring team at GI Physicians, Inc. not only have extensive experience treating acid reflux, we have a deep understanding of exactly what you endure and how the condition devastates your quality of life.
Dr. Kottapalli and his staff have scores of people they’ve helped who praise the ideal combination of clinical skills and personal warmth.
If anyone’s ever said, “Oh, it’s just heartburn, take a Tums and wait for it to go away,” as you described your acid reflux pain and discomfort, you may have learned to steer clear of the subject, but it’s time to acknowledge the havoc this condition wreaks on your everyday life.
We know this condition is much more than a temporary nuisance or minor problem.
Acid reflux points to a timing problem in your body. You have powerful acids that work to break down your food, but when the valve-like muscle on the lower end of your esophagus (the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES) relaxes when it shouldn’t, those bitter acids go right back up into your esophagus instead of passing through to your stomach like they should.
Dr. Kottapalli understands all too well that there are myriad painful effects from chronic acid reflux, including:
If you’re burdened with GERD, it can even cause asthma and pneumonia. In short, the symptoms are much more far-reaching than simple indigestion. The effects on your overall health are obvious, and as we noted before, you can begin to wonder if you’re ever going to feel better.
It’s not unusual for our patients to describe feeling how much they worry before they eat, because eating becomes stressful, rather than pleasurable. Some studies have found that this anxiety can exacerbate your acid reflux.
Since the GI Physicians, Inc. team believes in partnering with our patients, we learn as much as we can about your unique experience of acid reflux or GERD as we can. We do this through learning about your medical history, your lifestyle, and the details about your current symptoms.
Certain steps can make matters worse when it comes to your acid reflux, like:
Dr. Kottapalli works with you to raise your awareness about habits you can cultivate that relieve your acid reflux, like eating a balanced, healthy diet, keeping your weight in check, and never touching tobacco products.
In addition to getting you involved in practices that reduce your chances of experiencing acid reflux, we offer other advanced treatment options for your condition.
These include the everyday preventive and lifestyle practices you can incorporate that will prevent or reduce instances of acid reflux, and that promote good health in general. Sometimes it’s that simple to find relief.
If you continue to suffer with symptoms, we prescribe safe medications that strengthen your LES muscles or reduce the amount of acid in your stomach. Rest assured, we have an arsenal of effective treatments at our disposal.
Once you’ve graduated to having GERD, make getting treatment a top priority. The condition is actually linked to a somewhat higher risk of being diagnosed with esophageal cancer, so getting it under control is paramount to your long-term health.
We’re eager to help you find real relief from acid reflux. Simply call our office in Lima, Ohio, at 419-419-5138 to schedule a consultation, or request an appointment online. You can also send a message to Dr. Kottapalli and the team here on our website.
