In May 2008, Minnesota Gastroenterology opened a new specialty clinic designed for patients with heartburn and acid reflux disease. The patients scheduled for care in this specialty clinic are seen at our Plymouth location.
An estimated 61 million Americans - or 44 percent of the U.S. adult population - have heartburn symptoms at least once a month. Of these, almost half have acid reflux disease, which is also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Gastroesophageal reflux disease occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. Typical symptoms are heartburn and/or regurgitation. Less common GERD symptoms include persistent sore throat, hoarseness, chronic cough, asthma, the sensation of food or liquid in the throat, and even chest pain.
Diagnosis & Treatment
Factors which contribute to GERD symptoms include weight, smoking, age and pregnancy. Because of this, counseling, dietary support, patient education and lifestyle training are an important part of clinic services.
In addition, our state-of-the-art center provides specialized testing and treatment that is not widely available in the Twin Cities, such as the BRAVO capsule and high resolution esophageal manometry.
Research
The Esophageal specialty clinic regularly participates in national and international research to study new methods to treat GERD and related conditions. Because of this, our patients are some of the first to access cutting edge therapies and medications.
