The Risks of Living with Long Term Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Reflux is caused by weak muscles in the esophagus called the LES (Lower Esophageal Sphincter.) The LES is the tool which acts as a barrier for stopping stomach acid from rising back up into the esophagus or throat.
Eat Less-Exercise More is a Lie for the Morbidly Obese
Especially for those who are obese (BMI 35-39) or Morbidly Obese (BMI of 40+) this concept of just needed to push away from the table - or eat less and exercise more is in fact a cruel lie. Those with this complex disease have multiple factors including genetics and
Dr. George R. Merriman II Answers Important Questions
What is the biggest change in the treatment that you have seen over the life of your 30 year career?
Currently, the biggest change lies in our understanding that the basis of the obesity problem is not what we thought. When I started my training in the early 1980s, I was taught that a gastric bypass was curative of morbid obesity. We had a woefully inadequate understanding of the problem.
Obesity is a chronic and highly complex disease. The Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, often called "the Sleeve" for short, is one of the most popular surgeries chosen today and is a powerful tool for the fight against obesity, not only for its restrictive results in the reduction of the stomach, but also in the changes to hormone and brain messaging that occurs with the surgery.
Many patients suffer with uncontrolled Reflux or GERD. Many are on daily medications and still don't have adequate control of their symptoms.
Long term Reflux, even when controlled by medications, can still cause devastating effects to the esophagus, including in the worst case, cancer. If you are concerned about your Reflux, the new LINX device may be the tool you need
