Football season also means tackling heartburn

Expert at U. of C. Medicine offers advice on avoiding and treating reflux

September 25, 2013|By Bonnie Miller Rubin, Chicago Tribune reporter
  • Dr. Marco Patti is a gastrointestinal surgeon at University of Chicago Medicine.
Dr. Marco Patti is a gastrointestinal surgeon at University of Chicago Medicine. (University of Chicago Medicine &)

Every weekend, millions of Americans position themselves in front of the TV for a steady diet of football. Of course, that usually calls for consuming huge portions of pizza, chicken wings and hot sauce, chili, brats and other decadent snacks, all washed down with a cold beer. Add an afternoon nap on the couch and you have a time-honored fall tradition — but also a recipe for heartburn.

So, with pro and college football seasons underway, we turned to Dr. Marco Patti, a gastrointestinal surgeon at University of Chicago Medicine. He has published more than 180 journal articles and has extensive experience in treating gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. While we passed the dips, Patti passed on tips on how to tackle that bloated, burpy feeling. Here's an edited version of our interview:

Q: What's the difference between heartburn, acid reflux and GERD?

A: If you eat burgers, french fries and onion rings, you will get heartburn. Technically, it's what you feel when acid splashes up from the stomach into the esophagus. Heartburn is sometimes used interchangeably with acid reflux. Most people experience heartburn, but it doesn't mean they have a disease. However, GERD is severe or chronic acid reflux, and that can be serious and lead to other complications, such as esophageal cancer.

Q: How do you know the difference?

A: If you are eating spicy foods, tacos, Thai curries ... along with beer and wine, chocolate and coffee, then it's probably heartburn. However, if you have discomfort after a bowl of cereal and milk, then it's time to see the doctor.

Q: What causes these foods and beverages to splash up?

A: The simple physiological explanation is that there's a valve between the esophagus and the stomach. When the stomach acid refluxes — or flows up — it goes through the valve and pushes the acid from the stomach up to the lining of the esophagus, which causes the heartburn.

Q: Is weight a factor in that burning feeling?

A: Yes — and that's a big problem in the United States. Given the obesity issue in this country, acid reflux is becoming more common. But losing weight and changing your lifestyle is the first step toward relieving symptoms. Of course, losing weight is one thing; keeping it off is another.

Q: So what's the best way to treat acid reflux? And what do you think of natural remedies, such as mint or ginger?

A: There are good meds on the market. ... The most common belong to a group called proton pump inhibitors, such as Prilosec, which decreases the amount of acid produced in the stomach. But like any medication, there are also side effects you need to be aware of, such as decreased absorption of calcium.

There are also products like Maalox and Mylanta, which neutralize the acid ... but anything else and you're wasting your time and your money. To me, it's amazing that the (Food and Drug Administration) doesn't block some of these (natural products). It sounds like a magic pill, but it doesn't work.

Q: What about gum? How does that affect acid reflux?

A: Gum is actually protective. When you chew gum you produce more saliva, which helps neutralize the acids.

Q: Does the time you eat have an impact on your digestion?

A: I spent half of my life in Italy, where we'd have dinner at 11 p.m., and I never had problems. Then, I came to this country, and I changed my diet ... and got reflux. It's really about the foods and the portion size. If you are going to eat a big meal, make sure you move around, such as taking a walk before bedtime.

Q: What else would you want people to know?

A: There's a misconception that this is a benign disease. But reflux is the major cause of esophageal cancer, which is the fastest growing cancer in the U.S. It can cause respiratory problems. If you ask patients, they know what's bad for them ... the way everybody understands that smoking can cause lung cancer. Whatever is good will give you reflux. I'm not saying you should stick to a bland diet. It's fine to enjoy good food, but not too much. Like everything else, it comes down to personal choice.