Do you suffer from frequent heartburn? If you do, you’re not alone. Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding sees patients every week with recurring heartburn. As much as 20 percent of adults in the United States report having heartburn at least twice a week, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). There’s a difference between occasional heartburn and what is known as GERD, or acid reflux disease. If heartburn and other acid reflux symptoms happen more than twice a week, it could be gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Because being overweight or obese is a risk factor for GERD, bariatric surgeons like Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding encounter this condition often.

It is possible for some patients to reduce the symptoms of GERD with changes in their diets, as well as with medications. It’s important to know, however, that GERD can carry serious risk. Patients with GERD are also at risk for Barrett’s Esophagus – a condition where the normal tissue lining the esophagus changes to tissue that resembles the lining of the intestine. About 10% of people with chronic symptoms of GERD develop Barrett’s Esophagus. Additionally, it increases the risk of developing a serious and potentially fatal cancer of the esophagus. This type of cancer is rare, although it is higher in people with Barrett’s esophagus.

Some people see reflux disease as nothing more than an inconvenience, but it can be much more dangerous than that if it recurs often. If diet changes or medication are not effectively treating GERD, and you are obese, bariatric surgery may be a good option for you. Dr. Christine Ren-Fielding can evaluate your medical history and help you understand your treatment options. Since substantial weight loss has been shown to be effective in improving or treating GERD, certain bariatric surgeries like a gastric bypass may have multiple benefits for patients with obesity as well as reflux disease.