BCHS Physician to speak on GERD:
The Surprising Source of Many Physical Disorders
Nearly everyone suffers from heartburn at one time or another in their life. But is it really heartburn or is it another condition that is causing you discomfort?
Kurt Barrett, DO, a family practice physician with special interest in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) will present 'GERD: The Surprising Source of Many Physical Disorders' on Thursday, March 26 at Burnham Brook. Dr. Barrett will discuss how these and other physical conditions can be aggravated or caused when harsh stomach juices escape into the esophagus.
The program, which is free to the public, is sponsored through Senior Health Partners in coordination with Battle Creek Health System. A lunch will be served at 11:30 a.m. followed by Dr. Barrett's presentation at noon. Seating is limited. Reservations can be made by calling the class/seminar registration line at (877) GO2-BCHS (877-462-2247).
"You will likely be astounded to learn how gastroesophageal reflux disease could be involved in their situation," says Dr. Barrett. "Our society often equates heartburn or indigestion with GERD. But GERD can manifest as problems seemingly unassociated with digestion. The mystery seems even more sinister when the patient denies any apparent digestive problems like heartburn."
The condition of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) results when the voice box and upper respiratory tissues protect themselves from traces of digestive acid. These common, misunderstood circumstances remain very poorly appreciated and often go unrecognized.
GERD is sometimes interchanged with the terms heartburn, acid indigestion, or acid related disorder, but not every episode of stomach acid regurgitation causes the sensation of heartburn. Atypical GERD (including LPR) represents absent or infrequent classic symptoms such as indigestion/heartburn. When some people have GERD without heartburn they can be labeled as 'difficult' or determined to have 'mystery' illness.
The harmful qualities of escaped digestive fluids cause the body to activate its protective apparatus. The resultant tissue weeping, swelling, edema and muscle spasm in the esophagus is protective. With ongoing, prolonged, intensive irritation from GERD this protective phenomenon can extend to other interconnected tissues where it seems unwarranted. Common problems like cough, feeling tired, trouble sleeping, frequent sore throats, sinus trouble, headaches, chest discomfort even neck pain/stiffness can result and be difficult to control.
Senior Health Partners, a community partnership of Battle Creek Health System, CentraCare, Region 3B Area Agency on Aging, and Summit Pointe, works to expand wellness and educational offerings to senior citizens in Calhoun and surrounding counties.
Battle Creek Health System, sponsored by two parent organizations--Trinity Health (the fourth largest Catholic health system in the U.S. with 21 hospitals, 9 nursing homes, 19 senior house facilities, 8 home health care agencies, and 4 hospices in Michigan alone) and BCHS Community Partners, is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. Battle Creek Health System is a recipient of the 2008 HealthGrades Orthopaedic Surgery Excellence Award(tm). HealthGrades is a leading health care information company that provides objective 'report card' ratings nationwide. BCHS provides excellent health care for the community and promotes wellness for the whole person with access and compassion for all. For the latest medical information, visit the BCHS web site at www.bchealth.com or call the BCHS Marketing Department at (269) 966-8132.
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