Heartburn and indigestion: Is there really a cure?

Question: What cures heartburn and indigestion? — R.G.

Answer: It’s easier to answer what causes heartburn and indigestion, because treatment depends on the underlying problem. The most common cause of heartburn is gastroesophageal reflux disease. The contents of the stomach, which normally are strongly acidic, go backward into the esophagus, the long, muscular tube that connects the back of the throat with the stomach. The burning sensation is caused by sensory nerves in the esophagus, which is not supposed to have acid and can be damaged by recurrent exposure to it. Not everybody with GERD gets heartburn: Some people have a cough; some people have the sensation of food and acid going all the way into the back of the mouth, but some have less-typical symptoms, including voice changes, difficulty swallowing, excessive salivation, chest pain mimicking angina and nausea.

GERD usually is caused by relative weakness in the lower esophageal sphincter, a muscular valve structure at the bottom of the esophagus.

In addition to GERD, indigestion can be caused by stomach or duodenal (the first part of the small intestine) ulcers, gallstones, inflammation of the stomach, pancreatic disease, side effects of medications and many other things.

The first step in treating indigestion and heartburn is to make a diagnosis. Often, clinicians will give a trial of medication to treat symptoms. This may be antacids; proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole (Prilosec); or a class of medications called H2 — for “histamine type 2” — blockers, which include ranitidine (Zantac) and famotidine (Pepcid). Rapid relief of symptoms while on these medications is strong but imperfect evidence that the symptoms are being caused by a stomach-acid-related problem (GERD, gastritis and stomach ulcers being the most common). Persistent symptoms should trigger a more thorough workup, potentially including an examination of the esophagus, gastrum (stomach) and duodenum. This is done with a type of endoscopy usually called an EGD, or upper endoscopy, as opposed to a lower endoscopy (colonoscopy).

GERD symptoms usually are not cured, since “cure” means permanent relief from symptoms of the condition as well as resolution of the underlying mechanism. The only treatment likely to cure GERD is surgery to increase the ability of the lower esophageal sphincter to resist acid flow. Newer techniques allow this procedure to be done endoscopically. However, people who have had this surgery often develop other symptoms, including bloating and gas from the inability to belch and relieve swallowed air. However, GERD symptoms usually are manageable with lifestyle changes and medications.