Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), or heartburn, is incredibly common as is the use of stomach acid suppressing medication. But what if there is far more to the story than stomach acid? There are many other factors to consider in a patient with heartburn. We are going to dive into the physiology of gastric acid, gastric hormonal signaling, and a slew of medications and foods that might be the real culprit. Are PPI’s over prescribed? Are we missing the picture? Tune in to find out.

In today’s episode, we tackle some burning questions about GERD and try to get to the root cause. Are acid suppressing medications always the answer? Perhaps the story is not that simple.

Today on The Lab Report:

• 3:45 Conventional medicine’s approach to GERD
• 6:30 The roll of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES)
• 8:15 Stomach acid and gastric hormonal signaling
• 13:20 Foods that affect the LES
• 14:15 PPI’s - controversy and weaning
• 18:00 Prescriptive meds, lifestyle, and the LES
• 19:50 Hiatal hernias
• 21:30 Question of the Day
  • How does hypochlorhydria or PPI use affect Genova testing?

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Disclaimer: The content and information shared in The Lab Report is for educational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. The views and opinions expressed in The Lab Report represent the opinions and views of Michael Chapman and Patti Devers and their guests.