Sleeping Separately

Sleeping Separately
If you're feeling sleep deprived as a result of living with someone with acid reflux disease, sometimes you need to be creative to get the sleep you need. This is especially true if you are interested in being a good partner or parent.   According to the National Sleep Foundation, twenty three percent of married couples have already come to this same conclusion - sometimes they have to sleep solo in order to get the rest they...

Six Reasons Not to Overlook Reflux in Your Child

Six Reasons Not to Overlook Reflux in Your Child
Once felt to be a non-issue, childhood acid reflux is getting attention as a real problem. Here's why you shouldn't turn a blind eye to your child's symptoms:   1. Your child can't speak for herself. You as a parent are the front line in identifying the subtle signs of acid reflux in your child. And as your child's only advocate it is up to you to see to it that your child gets the care she deserves.  2...

The Croup/Reflux Connection

A study released this week found a connection between chronic croup and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. You may have heard of croup, a common viral illness in infants and toddlers with a characteristic barking cough. In most cases, croup comes on suddenly in the middle of the night.     A Croup/Reflux Story   Whenever I think of croup and reflux, I think of a Reflux Mom I know who kept calling me about her toddler. Usually... Complete news...

Dr. Eisner Anwers your GERD Questions: Is Nexium safe for kids?

My 9 year-old has been diagnosed with GERD. Is it safe for him to be on Nexium?   Yes. Earlier this year, the FDA approved Nexium for short-term use in children ages 1-11 years for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Both the liquid and delayed-release pill forms were approved. As opposed to children ages 12-17, the approved dose for younger children is 10-20 mg a day, for eight weeks. Most common side effects were headache... Continue reading...

Infant Reflux Misrepresented in the Media

Infant Reflux Misrepresented in the Media
The media has a way of oversimplifying things. Look, for example, at the December 16, 2007 piece from the Baltimore Sun, Reflux Among Babies Often a Misdiagnosis. The article suggests that acid reflux in babies is "widely misdiagnosed and often overtreated with unnecessary doses of heartburn medicine developed for adults."   The piece rests on the results of a small, recently published retrospective study of the practices of...

Five Signs of Childhood Acid Reflux That You May Overlook

Five Signs of Childhood Acid Reflux That You May Overlook
The younger your child, the harder it may be to recognize the signs of acid reflux. Here are five common signs that can be an indication of acid reflux: 1. Dental Enamel Loss When reflux reaches the mouth it can eat away at a child's dental enamel and predispose him or her to tooth decay. If you suspect reflux in your child, ask your dentist to look for signs of reflux damage in the teeth. In addition to treatment of the reflux...

A Weekend at the Beach

A Weekend at the Beach
  So many aspects of our family life have been fundamentally altered by our son's acid reflux disease and food allergies. Our summer weekend at the beach was no exception.   Instead of strolling through beach-side shops filled with foods our son couldn't eat, we played miniature golf. A family night out at a pizza parlor was replaced by a trip to the health food store and a meal prepared at our home-away-from-home. We...

A Reflux Parent's Guide to Immunizations

A Reflux Parent's Guide to Immunizations
As the school year begins, it is important that your child has his or her immunizations up to date. Vaccines safeguard children from illnesses and death caused by infectious diseases. However, some children with acid reflux have a weakened immune system, or allergic reactions that may create a potential for an adverse reaction associated with the vaccine. These side effects of the immunizations may be more of an exception than rule, but...

Here Is How You Can Save Money By Following Doctor’s Orders

A new study reveals that patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) who receive proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs require fewer health care services and incur lower costs if they conform to the recommended usage of the drug.   While these findings may seem more like common sense than research outcomes, I think this study reinforces two important points. The first is that your personal medical costs must be understood in both a... Complete news...

Colic Solved -- A book from Dr. Bryan Vartabedian

Colic Solved -- A book from Dr. Bryan Vartabedian
Dr. Bryan Vartabedian, pediatric gastroenterologist at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, is author of the book Colic Solved: The Essential Guide to Infant Reflux and the Care of Your Crying, Difficult-to-Soothe Baby published by Ballantine/Random House in 2007. HealthCentral.com talks to him about his book and what is has for parents of infants and children with acid reflux. HC: Explain your motivation for writing this book. ...

Pregnancy and Acid Reflux

Pregnancy and Acid Reflux
If you are expecting a baby, you can almost expect to have acid reflux. It is estimated that as many as 8 out of 10 women experience acid reflux, some for the first time in their life, when they are pregnant. Multiple factors cause acid reflux in pregnancy, including hormonal changes and weight gain. These reflux symptoms are usually the most troublesome during the last trimester of pregnancy.   When a women is pregnant, an increase in...