BreAnne Gendron, NP, knows all about the effects of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. She eventually had to give up coffee because it caused a burning sensation in her throat.

As a nurse practitioner with OSF HealthCare, Gendron also treats patients who experience GERD in different ways.

“GERD probably feels a little bit different for everybody, but it definitely helps [to understand patients' experience] when you have personal experience with it,” she says. “Sometimes people with GERD have a flare-up and their stomach hurts, but they don't get that acid-up-the-throat feeling. It just causes stomach discomfort. Sometimes it changes bowel movements. Everybody has a slightly different version of it.”

Occasional heartburn or acid reflux is common. But when those symptoms happen frequently – two or more times a week – it could be a sign of GERD and worth mentioning to your health care provider.

Symptoms can include regurgitation, trouble swallowing, a feeling of a lump in your throat, a persistent cough, a sore throat or heartburn that doesn’t improve with over-the-counter medication.

Gendron says people who are 50 and older and overweight are at highest risk for GERD. Heartburn is one of the most common symptoms of GERD. But how do you know if that burning sensation in your chest is simply reflux or something more serious, such as a heart problem?

When chest pain shouldn't be ignored

Gendron says patients will sometimes go to the emergency department because they are experiencing chest pain. While some people may wonder if they are overreacting, Gendron says it’s always better to have potentially serious issues addressed.

“If it’s the first time you're having chest pain, we can't just guess, ‘Oh, that's probably acid reflux,’” she says. “You have to go in and be seen to rule out a cardiac reason, because that's what we do in health care. We rule out the scary stuff, so we can treat the treatable stuff.”

Even people with a history of GERD should pay attention when their symptoms change. For example, if chest discomfort occurs during physical activity, it could be a sign of a heart problem and should be evaluated.

“I would say any time you have activity where you're carrying in the groceries or you're going up a couple flights of stairs and that pain happens, that's not a GERD symptom,” Gendron says. “That's a cardiac symptom, and your doctor can help you figure that out. It's worth a conversation if you're having reflux feelings that are different than normal.”

If you experience new, severe or unexplained chest pain, especially with symptoms such as shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, dizziness or pain that spreads to the arm, back, neck or jaw, seek emergency medical care immediately.

Knowing your GERD triggers

Once anything serious has been ruled out, lifestyle changes can help manage GERD symptoms.

Common triggers can include spicy or fatty foods, citrus or tomato-based foods, caffeine and soda, alcohol, nicotine and heavy or late-night meals.

Gendron says there isn't one diet that works for everyone with GERD. Instead, people should pay attention to which foods trigger their symptoms and make adjustments as needed.

“Some foods will bother people,” she says. “I hear people complain to me a lot about things with tomato sauce, so pizza and spaghetti and things like that bother people with acid reflux. So, you can augment your diet. You can cut back on coffee. You can cut back on your nicotine.”

Medication can also be used to treat GERD when lifestyle changes aren't enough. But Gendron says she prefers to start with lifestyle changes if possible.

For her, that meant giving up her favorite morning beverage.

“I personally had to give up coffee because of this problem. I know if I don't drink coffee, that my whole digestive tract is happier,” she says. “So, people will figure out which foods bother them, and then you have to avoid those.”

Interview Clips

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 20% of people in the United States have gastroesophageal reflux, commonly referred to as GERD. One of the complications of GERD is esophageal stricture, when a person’s esophagus becomes too narrow. This can lead to major problems with swallowing.

There’s a minimally invasive procedure available that can provide serious relief for patients dealing with these issues. One that can be done in one sitting and have you back to normal life as soon as you leave the hospital.

Introducing upper endoscopy

"This procedure is an upper endoscopy. We frequently refer to it as EGD (esophagogastroduodenoscopy). There are various treatments we can do with this procedure, including balloon dilation," says Raza Hamdani, MD, attending gastroenterologist at OSF HealthCare St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg, Illinois. "Balloon dilation is one of the techniques we have for patients who have obstruction of the esophagus."

Common complaints that lead to EGD:

The main complaint seen when patients get referred for an EGD is difficulty swallowing certain food like bread or meat. However, depending on the severity, it can even be soft foods or liquids causing issues while being consumed.

“It's usually described as a sensation of choking or things slowing down," Dr. Hamdani says. "Things not being able to go through”

Carrie McCance, the public relations communications coordinator (PRCC) at OSF St. Mary, usually is creating content about the work OSF providers do. This time, she has become part of the story.

“I was having frequent issues with food getting stuck in my esophagus, so much so that I couldn’t even swallow bread. After undergoing an X-ray, I was diagnosed with dysphagia, which is the medical term for difficulty swallowing,” McCance says.

McCance spoke with her care team at OSF and underwent an X-ray to try and get answers. The X-ray revealed she had scar tissue in her esophagus created by acid reflux, creating an esophageal ring that narrowed her esophagus.

“A normal esophagus measures about 20 millimeters in diameter, but mine had narrowed to 12 millimeters,” McCance says.

How the upper endoscopy works

McCance decided to get the upper endoscopy procedure, performed by Dr. Hamdani. Done under sedation, a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope gently passes through the patient’s throat.

A dilating balloon that has been inserted through the scope is carefully inflated, stretching the esophagus back to its normal size.

“This definitely improved my swallowing,” McCance explains.

Her treatment became a family affair, after Carrie’s mother, Mary Guenther, who had been experiencing similar issues, saw McCance go through the process.

“I was happy she told me about this. After I saw her go through the procedure without issues, it was easier for me to go through the process,” Guenther says.

Guenther’s esophagus was even narrower than McCance’s, at eight millimeters. Guenther says she went directly from the hospital and out to breakfast, and her swallowing has been better ever since.

McCance says having this procedure available in Galesburg saved her from hours of travel time, which she is very grateful for.

“I was in and out of the hospital within just a few hours. It couldn’t have been more convenient. Originally, I was expecting to travel to Peoria for the procedure, but thanks to Dr. Hamdani coming to the area, I was able to receive care close to home,” McCance says. “It also meant a lot to have the same option available for my mother. Being able to take her in for her procedure and have her back home in less time than would take just to drive to and from a larger city made a big difference for the both of us.”

What puts people at risk:

For those with trouble swallowing, it normally starts off with a slight feeling and then progresses to a “strong sensation,” Dr. Hamdani points out. This looks like food items are not passing through the throat or even getting stuck. This can even send some patients to the emergency department.

"If you cannot control the acid sensation or burning. Or even if you can, but you've had that kind of sensation for several years, that puts you at some risk for developing scar tissue and obstructions," Dr. Hamdani adds.

Dr. Hamdani encourages patients to "take action" if they are experiencing these complications, just like McCance did.

“Having this procedure truly changed my life. I can now eat without the constant fear of food getting stuck in my esophagus,” McCance adds.

Dr. Hamdani and McCance agree, saying first speak with your primary care provider. They can start by prescribing medications that can help relieve symptoms. If these symptoms don't go away completely, then you should get further consultation with a gastroenterologist to prevent issues from becoming more serious.

Acid reflux isn’t the only challenge these patients can face. Allergies can also affect the esophagus, creating the need for an EGD procedure.

For more information on gastroenterology specialists in the Greater Galesburg region, visit the OSF HealthCare website.

Video Interview Clips