acid reflux

[John1922]

I read this today on the paper i have suffered with this for 7 years so thought i would share

Dr Martin Scurr replies: A hiatus hernia is when part of the stomach squeezes up into the chest through the diaphragm (the wall of muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen).

In some cases, stomach acid spills up into the oesophagus; this acid reflux causes symptoms such as heartburn, nausea or a dry cough. Chronic symptoms should be investigated, but if there’s no underlying issue, patients are often ­prescribed proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as ­lansoprazole, to reduce acid production.

This is important as acid can damage cells lining the oesophagus, causing a precancerous ­condition called Barrett’s oesophagus. But all medicines have potential side-effects. Lansoprazole can cause dry mouth and fatigue, while rarer side-effects include ­anaemia and pancreatitis (an inflamed pancreas).

Lansoprazole is one of the proton pump inhibitors prescribed to patients with a hiatus hernia

Lansoprazole is one of the proton pump inhibitors prescribed to patients with a hiatus hernia

Lansoprazole is one of the proton pump inhibitors prescribed to patients with a hiatus hernia

More recently, concerns have emerged about a link between taking PPIs long-term (longer than three months) and the increased risk of gastric, oesophageal, colorectal and pancreatic cancers. One theory is that this relates to changes to the acidity or bacterial make-up of the gut.

Not all patients need to take PPIs for life – treatment should be based on the severity of the symptoms. One possibility is a ‘drug holiday’: with the doctor’s agreement, stopping the medication for a few weeks or months to see if symptoms persist or if they can be managed in other ways.

Research shows up to 40 per cent of acid reflux symptoms can be reduced with diet and lifestyle changes. Over-the-counter antacids, such as Gaviscon, may also help. Another option is surgery to correct the hiatus hernia. I’d suggest your son speaks to his GP.