Heartburn is a common problem — one that at least 15 million Americans experience on a daily basis. While it’s not an issue to have a flare-up from time to time, ongoing problems can cause long-term damage to your esophagus.
If you find yourself struggling with heartburn and your weight, it could be time to schedule a consultation with Dr. Chad Carlton at LoneStar Bariatrics. As an experienced bariatric surgeon, Dr. Carlton offers proven results in a personalized approach to helping people reach their weight loss goals in North Dallas, Texas.
Do you have heartburn? Here’s why it’s time to rethink your weight to solve this problem.
The term “heartburn” is a bit of a misnomer because it doesn’t involve your heart at all. Instead, it describes a problem with your upper gastrointestinal tract.
When you have heartburn — also known as acid reflux — stomach acid leaks back into your esophagus. However, if this occurs at least twice a week, you have the chronic condition gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which can cause permanent esophageal damage.
In addition to the classic “heartburn” sensation, GERD can cause other symptoms, such as:
For many people living with GERD, symptoms typically worsen in the evening, when bending over or lying down, or after eating.
Whether you have heartburn from time to time or a chronic problem, your weight can play a significant role in the issue.
Anyone can have heartburn, but it’s often due to excess weight.
Carrying extra weight, especially in your midsection, increases the amount of pressure on your abdomen. This causes stomach acid to leak or flow back into the esophagus more easily. Your weight can also interfere with how muscles in your gastrointestinal tract function, leading to problems with the esophageal sphincter and esophageal motion disorder.
Your esophageal sphincter is the muscle that closes to keep food in the stomach. When problems with this muscle arise, food can flow back into the esophagus, causing heartburn.
This swallowing disorder, also known as esophageal motility, occurs when muscles in your esophagus don’t contract, so food and liquids can’t get delivered to your stomach properly.
But it doesn’t stop there. Having excess fat in this area also secretes inflammatory hormones known to increase the risks of GERD complications, like Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer.
Fortunately, studies show that losing weight can significantly improve heartburn and GERD.
If you have chronic heartburn and extra weight to lose, Dr. Carlton and his team can help you find the perfect solution to reach your goals.
The truth is that there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to long-term weight loss. That’s why people find success working with Dr. Carlton. Instead of offering a single option for everyone, he takes a personalized approach and designs a strategy specifically for you.
Weight loss solutions offered at LoneStar Bariatrics include:
Dr. Carlton also performs weight loss surgeries, like gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and duodenal switch procedures.
Don’t let your weight put your health at risk. If you have heartburn, contact LoneStar Bariatrics to schedule a consultation by calling or booking online today.
