- GERD Update #1: Causes of Nighttime Heartburn
Many people, including up to 79% of those with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), suffer from heartburn that awakens them during the night. Research reported in the journal Chest (Volume 127, page 1658) shows that people who are overweight, drink a lot of carbonated beverages, snore, experience daytime sleepiness or insomnia, have high blood pressure or asthma, or use anti-anxiety medications (such as diazepam [Valium]) are most likely to experience this problem.
The subjects were part of the Sleep Heart Health Study, a national trial that enrolled 15,314 people to investigate the link between breathing problems during sleep and cardiovascular disease. The subjects completed a survey that included the question “In the past year, how often, on average, have you been awakened during the night with heartburn or indigestion?” The responses indicated that one quarter, or 3,806 people, in this group reported the symptom at least twice a month. People with nighttime heartburn are at greater risk for more serious esophageal problems such as erosive esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal cancer.
If you experience nighttime heartburn on a regular basis, talk with your doctor. In addition, try to control the risk factors identified in this study -- for example, keep your weight and blood pressure under control and cut down on your soda intake.
- GERD Update #2: Fatty Diet Increases GERD Risk
The more calories and fat you eat, especially saturated fat, the more likely you are to have symptoms of GERD, such as heartburn and regurgitation of acid into the throat, according to a study reported in the journal GUT (Volume 54, page 11).
Three hundred and seventy one employees of the Houston Veterans Affairs Medical Center were asked to fill out GERD symptom and dietary consumption questionnaires. One hundred and sixty four of them also agreed to have an upper endoscopy to detect erosion of the esophagus, which occurs in people with GERD when stomach acid refluxes into the esophagus. Erosive esophagitis was found in 24% of those who had an upper endoscopy, and it was associated with a high-fat, high-protein diet.
People with GERD symptoms had significantly higher intakes of total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol than those without symptoms. GERD sufferers also tended to eat more calories overall and get more of their calories from fat. Fat portions also tended to be larger among GERD sufferers, and the more calories and fat they ate, the more symptoms they had. It was unclear, however, whether high dietary fat intake directly caused GERD or whether people who have a high-fat diet tend to be overweight and these excess pounds increase their risk of GERD. Regardless of the explanation, eating fewer calories and reducing fat intake may lower your risk of GERD.
For more Alerts and Special Reports, please visit the Digestive Disorders Topic page.
