Government releases report comparing treatments for GERD
Acid reflux can be so painful that a flare-up can be mistaken for a heart attack, but patients who buy Canadian Nexium can control their symptoms at a fraction of the regular cost.
Acid reflux can be so painful that a flare-up can be mistaken for a heart attack, but patients who buy Canadian Nexium can control their symptoms at a fraction of the regular cost. Other therapies, including surgical treatment, may be helpful also. For the first time, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, released a report comparing the risks and benefits of different approaches to acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Up to 4 percent of Americans suffer from GERD, which can increase the risk of esophageal cancer. The costs to treat the disease can add up - a single patient can spend more than $3,300 a year to treat their condition, and two thirds of that cost can come from drugs, the AHRQ said. The standard class of drugs used to treat GERD are proton pump inhibitors, which the AHRQ concluded to be the most effective. These medicines can have mild side effects, such as headache, but nothing serious. However, there aren't many differences between different drugs and dosages in this class, and doctors may need to reevaluate their prescription practices.
Fundoplication is a surgery that wraps the top of the stomach around the esophagus to help control GERD. The AHRQ says this procedure reduced - but did not eliminate - the need for medications. While some patients' symptoms improved, the surgery can increase risks for post-operative infection and difficulty swallowing.
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