Do you have Reflux?

“Reflux” is the common term used to describe when an individual’s stomach contents refluxes, or backs-up, into the esophagus and/or throat.

EVERYONE REFLUXES!

Reflux is a daily physiologic process for all of us. Reflux is the way that the stomach vents gas. Up to fifty reflux events every day may be considered normal. It is when the reflux of stomach contents into the throat or esophagus becomes excessive that tissue injury and pain may occur.

There are two kinds of reflux: GERD and LPR

GERD (or gastroesophageal reflux disease) is when the stomach contents invade and irritate the esophagus above the stomach.

Common Manifestations of GERD May Include:

LPR (or laryngopharyngeal reflux) is when the stomach contents pass through a healthy and unharmed esophagus below and into the throat above (the area known as the pharynx and larynx), causing irritation and damage.

Common Manifestations of LPR May Include:

throat discomfort or pain
excessive throat clearing
excessive throat mucus
the sensation of a lump in the throat (also known as globus)
cough
hoarseness

Any of these afflictions can have profound negative effects on a person’s quality of life and wellbeing¹

Do you have reflux?

Have you experienced any of the difficulties highlighted above? Do you suffer from reflux? The Reflux Symptom Index (RSI)¹ is a simple 10 item questionnaire that is used to help in the diagnosis of reflux. An RSI score of more than 8 suggests that you may be suffering from reflux, either GERD or LPR. If reflux is affecting your daily life, you should speak with your physician!

How Do You Treat Reflux?

The most widely used treatments for reflux are drugs known as proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs. (Commonly recognized under brand names such as Prevacid, Prilosec, or Nexium, to name just a few.) PPIs are very effective acid-reducing chemicals taken for GERD, LPR, erosive esophagitis, and peptic ulcer disease.

Since hitting the market in the 1990s, PPIs have become among the most popular drugs in the world.² Population studies indicate that PPIs are one of the most over-prescribed medications in the country.^3,4 The belief that PPIs were safe helped to spread their use far and wide. Unfortunately, mounting evidence indicates that long term PPI use could be dangerous.^3-5

Potential complications of chronic PPI use include: ^6-10

Despite their potential side effects, PPIs are highly effective drugs. They can heal an injured esophagus and help prevent the manifestations of reflux. Some people do need to be on these medications indefinitely. Recent evidence, however, suggests that these medications are over-prescribed and people should try and get off of them and transition to safer alternatives if possible.⁷

Fortunately, there’s Reflux Gourmet to the rescue! Providing an all-natural, completely safe alternative for the management of reflux.

References

Still curious? Check out these references for even more details!

Belafsky PC, Postma GN, Koufman JA. Validity and reliability of the reflux symptom index (RSI). J Voice 2002; 16:274-277.  
Savarino V, Marabotto E, Zentilin Pet al. The appropriate use of proton-pump inhibitors. Minerva Med 2018; 109:386-399.  
Hatemi I, Esatoglu SN. What is the long term acid inhibitor treatment in gastroesophageal reflux disease? What are the potential problems related to long term acid inhibitor treatment in gastroesophageal reflux disease? How should these cases be followed? Turk J Gastroenterol 2017; 28:S57-S60.  
Lazarus B, Chen Y, Wilson FPet al. Proton Pump Inhibitor Use and the Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease. JAMA Intern Med 2016; 176:238-246.  
Lazarus B, Coresh J, Grams ME. Adverse Effects of Proton Pump Inhibitors in Chronic Kidney Disease-Reply. JAMA Intern Med 2016; 176:869-870.  
Li T, Xie Y, Bowe B, Xian H, Al-Aly Z. Serum phosphorus levels and risk of incident dementia. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0171377.  
Xie Y, Bowe B, Li T, Xian H, Yan Y, Al-Aly Z. Risk of death among users of Proton Pump Inhibitors: a longitudinal observational cohort study of United States veterans. BMJ Open 2017; 7:e015735.  
Xie Y, Bowe B, Li T, Xian H, Yan Y, Al-Aly Z. Long-term kidney outcomes among users of proton pump inhibitors without intervening acute kidney injury. Kidney Int 2017; 91:1482-1494.  
Gomm W, von Holt K, Thome Fet al. Association of Proton Pump Inhibitors With Risk of Dementia: A Pharmacoepidemiological Claims Data Analysis. JAMA Neurol 2016; 73:410-416.  
Kuller LH. Do Proton Pump Inhibitors Increase the Risk of Dementia? JAMA Neurol 2016; 73:379-381.  
Leiman DA, Riff BP, Morgan Set al. Alginate therapy is effective treatment for GERD symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Dis Esophagus 2017; 30:1-9.  
McGlashan JA, Johnstone LM, Sykes J, Strugala V, Dettmar PW. The value of a liquid alginate suspension (Gaviscon Advance) in the management of laryngopharyngeal reflux. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2009; 266:243-251.  
Reimer C, Lodrup AB, Smith G, Wilkinson J, Bytzer P. Randomised clinical trial: alginate (Gaviscon Advance) vs. placebo as add-on therapy in reflux patients with inadequate response to a once daily proton pump inhibitor. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2016; 43:899-909.  
Rohof WO, Bennink RJ, Smout AJ, Thomas E, Boeckxstaens GE. An alginate- antacid formulation localizes to the acid pocket to reduce acid reflux in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2013; 11:1585-1591; quiz e1590.  
Salvatore S, Ripepi A, Huysentruyt Ket al. The Effect of Alginate in Gastroesophageal Reflux in Infants. Paediatr Drugs 2018; 20:575-583.  
Vardar R, Keskin M, Valitova E, Bayrakci B, Yildirim E, Bor S. Effect of alginate in patients with GERD hiatal hernia matters. Dis Esophagus 2017; 30:1-7.  
Muller M, Labenz G, Borkenstein DP, Labenz J, Studiengruppe L. [Alginate on demand as add-on for patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and insufficient PPI effect]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr 2018.  
Wilkie MD, Fraser HM, Raja H. Gaviscon(R) Advance alone versus co- prescription of Gaviscon(R) Advance and proton pump inhibitors in the treatment of laryngopharyngeal reflux. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2018; 275:2515-2521.  
Saifullah AM, Ahmed F, Shil BCet al. Comparative Study of Alginate and Omeprazole in Symptomatic Treatment of Non-erosive Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Mymensingh Med J 2018; 27:771-775.
Georg Jensen M¹, Kristensen M, Astrup A. Effect of alginate supplementation on weight loss in obese subjects completing a 12-wk energy-restricted diet: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr.2012 Jul;96(1):5-13. doi: 10.3945/ajcn.111.025312. Epub 2012 May 30.
Paxman JR¹, Richardson JC, Dettmar PW, Corfe BM. Daily ingestion of alginate reduces energy intake in free-living subjects. Appetite.2008 Nov;51(3):713-9. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2008.06.013. Epub 2008 Jul 4.