Weight Loss Surgery May Reduce Acid Reflux
Many Americans suffer from heartburn and acid reflux, and for many of them, the weight loss that results from weight loss surgery may provide some relief.
The most common reason for heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is that the valve between your esophagus and your stomach weakens, and acid from the stomach refluxes back into the esophagus. When you are overweight, the stomach can put pressure on the valve, causing a higher frequency of acid reflux and weakening the esophageal valve further. This is also true for pregnant women, who will frequently experience heartburn even if they haven’t before. The problem is exacerbated when you lie down at night because gravity pushes on your stomach, increasing the pressure on the valve even further. In some situations, you can develop a hiatal hernia, which stretches out your esophagus and increases your chances of experiencing acid reflux more frequently.
In a study published in the journal Obesity Surgery, 79% of a sampling of 295 patients who had acid reflux before undergoing weight loss surgery had complete elimination of their symptoms four years later. An additional 11% said that their symptoms had decreased dramatically. One logical conclusion that can be drawn from this result is that by losing weight, chronic heartburn sufferers could possibly experience significant relief. However, experts warn that if there are predisposing factors, including a hiatal hernia, there is a chance that acid reflux will continue even after experiencing weight loss, and other treatment options may be necessary.