Commonly known as heartburn, acid reflux is a digestive disease that results in acid regurgitation from the stomach. It's a painful condition that causes chest pain, persistent dry cough, and sometimes sore throat. It's also frustrating for most who can't find instant relief from a glass of milk, antacid, or another home remedy. When you suffer from acid reflux symptoms or any digestive health issue for that matter, a gastroenterologist should be your companion to diagnose and navigate you through treatment without second-guesses. At Mesquite Gastroenterology and Surgery Center, we take a personalized approach to the care of our Tucson, AZ patients.
Treating Your Acid Reflux
Before our gastroenterologist suggests acid reflux treatment, he'll first need to diagnose the cause of the problem. He'll do this by performing an endoscopy - a procedure used to look inside the body. Dr. Arenas will then ask questions about your nutrition and lifestyle because frequent consumption of coffee, carbonated beverages, citrus fruits, and other foods or beverages can result in difficulty swallowing, burning in the chest, or the sensation of a lump in the throat. Avoiding them should eliminate discomfort, but not always. For mild cases of acid reflux, treatment often begins with over-the-counter medication containing proton pump inhibitors that control acidity in the stomach. When pain becomes chronic and medications prove ineffective, Dr. Arenas may suggest a safe and effective surgical procedure performed in our Tucson, AZ office. It's called fundoplication and strengthens the stomach by creating an artificial valve at the top. He'll describe the procedure in detail should you be a candidate.
Don't let symptoms of heartburn or acid reflux disrupt your everyday life. When antacids don't work, schedule a consultation with our gastroenterologist to discuss treatment options. For more information about other conditions treated and services provided by Mesquite Gastroenterology and Surgery Center, visit our website. Please call (520) 722-0744 for appointment scheduling with Dr. Miguel A. Arenas in our Tucson, AZ office.