Conquer Your Heartburn
A variety of new treatments could finally mean relief from acid reflux
BY Lisa Fields
In 2019, after enduring three years of headaches and frequent bouts of heartburn, Murali Bharadwaj of London learned what sparked his discomfort: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a chronic condition caused by stomach acid repeatedly rising into his oesophagus. Whenever Bharadwaj drank beer or ate late in the evening, he experienced symptoms.
“The acid reflux meant I couldn’t focus on the present moment, in meetings, playing sports or having social drinks with my friends,” says the now 41-year-old. “My thoughts always went to the burning sensation in my throat.”
He began taking medication called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to lower the acidity in his stomach. It helped, but only a little. In 2021, his doctor suggested a procedure to strengthen his lower oesophageal sphincter, the valve between the stomach and oesophagus. Bharadwaj was sceptical, but when he learned that transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) didn’t involve invasive surgery—it’s performed endoscopically through the mouth and oesophagus—he decided to try it.
In TIF, a small portion of the upper stomach is folded over the bottom of the oesophagus and stapled in place. After the procedure, Bharadwaj says his quality of life improved, and he no longer needed to take PPIs as often.
“I used to take them once per day, minimum, sometimes twice,” he explains. “Since the procedure, it’s been just three times per week. I get acid reflux sometimes, but it’s way more manageable—less frequent and less intense.”
GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE
(also known as chronic acid reflux) affects up to 25 per cent of Europeans, around 12 per cent of Australians and 23 per cent of people in South America, according to a 2018 American study. When stomach acid repeatedly enters the oesophagus, it can change the delicate tissue, which over time can lead to bleeding or ulcers. Complications may include narrowing of the passage due to repeated healing and scar formation, which can make swallowing difficult, or Barrett’s oesophagus—permanent changes in the lower oesophagus lining that, in very rare cases, can lead to cancer.
Many people experience occasional acid reflux, perhaps after overindulging in alcohol or certain foods. The vast majority of people will never see a doctor about it, says Dr Arjan Bredenoord, gastroenterologist at University Medical Centres Amsterdam. And that's
