Chronic Kidney Disease and GERD: Yes, There Is a Connection
Anne, 73, was first diagnosed with GERD (Reflux Disease) 10 years ago. It had first begun as general heartburn symptoms, but when antacids were ineffective, she sought medical care for her condition. Several different drugs were tried; in the end, she was given Prilosec (omeprazole) twice daily, which was effective in keeping her GERD symptoms at bay. She had been taking Prilosec since.
GERD is a condition where the muscle between the stomach and the esophagus is weakened allowing contents of the stomach to enter the esophagus. The symptoms are usually burning, pain, and a sensation of pressure in the chest. The person can also have coughing if the contents reach the trachea. Sometimes the symptoms are so severe that the person believes they are having a heart attack. The two main medical treatments are H2 Inhibitors and Proton Pump Inhibitors. Both are designed to keep the acidity down in the stomach thus stopping the burning sensation. The person still has the reflux of stomach contents, but they don't have the symptoms of the reflux.
One new medical procedure is to reinforce the esophagus at the point where it enters the stomach-the procedure is called fundoplication. Another is called LINX where a band is placed around the esophagus to prevent stomach contents from entering the esophagus. As this is a new procedure, little is known at the time of writing this article.
The cause of GERD is unknown from a medical standpoint but several lifestyle and dietary factors have been implicated: obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, a high-fat diet, and drinking of carbonated beverages. If a person has a hiatus hernia, it can also cause or worsen GERD. Most medical drugs can cause or worsen GERD as well.
In my practice, I have seen other contributing factors for GERD: food allergies or sensitivities, the inability to digest certain foods, emotions, and a person's mental state (especially if the person suppresses emotions or thoughts to not face them-in essence "swallowing" the feelings).
In Anne's case, she was taking 9 different drugs plus supplements; most of drugs she had been taking for at least 20 years. The ones Anne took that were commonly known to cause GERD were prednisone, a statin drug for cholesterol, and Lasix (a diuretic). She was unsure if she was allergic to any foods, and she refused to discuss her mental/emotional state with anyone. She was over 100 pounds overweight and didn't watch what she ate (stating "that's what all the drugs are for"). In essence, she had many "risk factors" for GERD.