Heartburn News and Research

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Heartburn, also know as acid reflux, is a painful and burning sensation in the esophagus, just behind the breastbone usually associated with regurgitation of gastric acid (gastric reflux).

Over-the-counter acid reflux drug appears to improve the odds of survival for COVID-19 patients

In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors in Wuhan noticed something surprising. Many of the elderly patients who survived the virus were poor: not exactly the demographic you would expect to fare well in a health crisis.

20 Aug 2021

Study highlights the significance of screening for pre-cancerous Barrett’s esophagus

Abnormal cells that go on develop into oesophageal cancer – cancer that affects the tube connecting the mouth and stomach – start life as cells of the stomach, according to scientists at the University of Cambridge.

13 Aug 2021

Rumination syndrome often confused with other gastrointestinal conditions

Patients who regurgitate regularly but without any known cause may have a condition called rumination. Unfortunately, rumination is often confused with other gastrointestinal conditions, which means many patients may not be getting prompt treatment.

18 Mar 2021

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is linked with higher risks of larynx and esophageal cancers

Results from a large prospective study indicate that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which also causes heartburn symptoms, is linked with higher risks of various cancers of the larynx (or voice box) and esophagus.

22 Feb 2021

People with problems in the upper GI tract may be vulnerable to COVID-19 infection

No evidence so far indicates that food or drinks can transmit the virus that causes COVID-19, but new research at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that people with problems in the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract may be vulnerable to infection after swallowing the virus.

20 Jan 2021

Debilitating gastrointestinal symptoms could be controlled with diet and lifestyle modifications

Findings from the Nurses' Health Study, one of the longest running studies of women's health, show that five diet and lifestyle factors, including regular exercise, can make a significant impact on gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) or heartburn symptoms.

5 Jan 2021

Hydrogen therapy may help severely ill COVID-19 patients

Researchers from the Department of Critical Care Medicine, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu in China, have explored the possibility of using hydrogen therapy on severely ill COVID-19 patients. The team published their study's findings, titled "Hydrogen: A Potential New Adjuvant Therapy for COVID-19 Patients," in the latest issue of the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology.

17 Nov 2020

PPI use linked to worse outcomes in urothelial cancer patients treated with atezolizumab

Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use was associated with worse outcomes in patients with urothelial cancer treated with the immunotherapeutic atezolizumab (Tecentriq), compared with patients who did not use PPIs.

17 Sep 2020

With no legal guardrails for patients, ambulances drive surprise medical billing

School librarian Amanda Brasfield bent over to grab her lunch from a small refrigerator and felt her heart begin to race. Even after lying on her office floor and closing her eyes, her heart kept pounding and fluttering in her chest.

14 Sep 2020

Three commercially available drugs may cause unexpected effects in humans, shows study

A new study of 1,443 medications found that three prescription drugs currently on the market caused unexpected changes in worms that could point to potential, unrecognized effects in humans.

28 Jul 2020

Study shows global prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders

For every ten adults in the world, four suffer from functional gastrointestinal disorders of varying severity. This is shown by a study of more than 73,000 people in 33 countries. University of Gothenburg scientists are among those now presenting these results.

27 May 2020

Chasing the elusive dream of a COVID cure

Although scientists and stock markets have celebrated the approval for emergency use of remdesivir to treat COVID-19, a cure for the disease that has killed nearly 260,000 people remains a long way off — and might never arrive.

15 May 2020

Study shows how long-term use of acid suppressants could increase risk of dementia

Millions of people around the world use acid suppressants called proton pump inhibitors for conditions like heartburn, gastritis and stomach ulcers. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden now report that how the long-term use of these drugs could increase the risk of developing dementia.

8 May 2020

Researchers highlight when antireflux surgery is needed to treat GERD after endoscopy

Researchers report a growing awareness of gastroesophageal reflux problems among patients who undergo endoscopic, nonsurgical treatment for esophageal achalasia, frequently requiring future surgical intervention.

8 Apr 2020

$Investigational drug reduces heartburn severity in patients with refractory GERD$

Investigational drug reduces heartburn severity in patients with refractory GERD

An investigational drug that binds bile acids in the stomach can reduce the severity of heartburn symptoms in patients with treatment-resistant gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) when combined with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), a new study suggests.

26 Feb 2020

Viagra may cause long lasting visual disturbances finds study

In a new study scientists have reported that Sildenafil or Viagra pills used for erectile dysfunction could lead to longer lasting visual disturbances than known before. The study titled, “Ocular Side Effects of Sildenafil That Persist Beyond 24 h—A Case Series,” was published in the latest issue of the journal Frontiers in Neurology.

9 Feb 2020

E-cigarette users have reported adverse health effects online for at least seven years

A team of researchers at the University of California, Riverside, used automated computer methods to mine a large online discussion forum for electronic cigarette users and found this group reported numerous adverse health effects for at least seven years.

6 Jan 2020

Gastroesophageal reflux disease may affect nearly a third of U.S. adults every week

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a digestive disorder that causes hearburn and other uncomfortable symptoms, may affect nearly a third of U.S. adults each week, and most of those who take certain popular medications for it still have symptoms, according to a new Cedars-Sinai study.

19 Dec 2019

Popular heartburn drug voluntarily recalled for carcinogen levels above FDA standards

The popular heartburn drug ranitidine, commonly known as Zantac, was voluntarily recalled due to the contamination of a human carcinogen that could potentially cause cancer. The recall includes oral tablets, capsules, and syrup.

27 Nov 2019

Tips for staying healthy during the holiday season

The holiday season is a time with family, friends and fun, but it is also a time that is filled with lots of food and sweets.

25 Nov 2019