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When Heartburn is More than Simple Indigestion

By Christopher S. Cutler, MD

How do you know when heartburn or “indigestion” is something more and needs to be treated? The gastroenterology specialists at Granite Peaks GI take time with their patients to determine if such symptoms may be a result of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). One of the red flags is heartburn occurring more than twice a week; although you can have GERD without the presence of heartburn. “If it is GERD, it needs to be diagnosed so further damage to the esophagus is minimized. There are also simple steps that can be taken to manage the disease and immediately improve one’s quality of life,” says Dr. Cutler, who explains more about the disease in the Q & A below.

What is GERD?

When we eat, food is carried from the mouth to the stomach through the esophagus. At the lower end of the esophagus where it joins the stomach there is a ring of muscle cells called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). After swallowing, the LES relaxes to allow food to enter the stomach. Then, the LES contracts to prevent food and acid from traveling back up into the esophagus. GERD occurs when the LES weakens, allowing stomach contents and acid to back up into the esophagus, causing troubling symptoms or complications.

Who gets GERD and when should you see a doctor?

GERD affects ten million adults in the United States on a daily basis. People prone to developing it include those who are overweight, smokers or drinkers, and pregnant women. If symptoms are prolonged, or if you are unable to control the symptoms with lifestyle modifications and/or medications, you should see a gastroenterologist. Do so immediately if you have these warning symptoms: throwing up blood, passing black stool, difficulty swallowing, unexplained weight loss, or anemia.

What happens if you don’t treat GERD?

Untreated GERD may lead to the following complications: a narrowing of the esophagus which causes difficulty swallowing, ulcers which can cause bleeding, aspiration of acid into the lungs which may cause pneumonia or asthma, Barrett’s esophagus which is a precancerous lining of the esophagus, and esophageal cancer.

How is GERD treated? 

Lifestyle modifications, such as the following, can help decrease symptoms: raising the head of the bed (placement of 6-inch blocks under the head of the bed), waiting at least three to four hours after eating before lying down, avoiding tight-fitting clothing, avoiding smoking and alcohol, losing weight, and eating smaller, more frequent meals. Foods that can commonly aggravate GERD include: fatty foods, chocolate, peppermint, alcohol, caffeine, and citrus drinks. There may be other foods specific to each patient. Medication can also be used to help treat this condition, including antacids such as Mylanta or Maalox, H2 blockers such as Zantac or Tagamet, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as Prilosec or Prevacid.

How is GERD diagnosed? 

Your doctor may be able to diagnose this condition based upon your symptoms and response to therapy. If you have any of the classic warning symptoms mentioned above, your doctor may recommend an upper endoscopy. An upper endoscopy is a painless procedure performed under moderate sedation where a tiny lighted camera is passed through your mouth into your esophagus. Your gastroenterologist will be able to see whether there is damage to your stomach or esophageal tissue, and will be able to recommend a treatment plan to address your specific condition.

Talk to the experts at Granite Peaks Gastroenterology at our Sandy or Lehi office to help relieve your symptoms and determine the best course of action to treat your GERD.

Get to know your doctors!

At Granite Peaks, we believe it’s very important to learn about your provider, and their goals that are aimed at creating the best patient care possible.

Granite Peaks Gastroenterology brings a new dimension to healthcare in Utah. Formed in Sandy, Utah, Granite Peaks brings together a team of well-established physicians and staff with the common goal of creating a fully integrated digestive health center of excellence. The physicians are board-certified in gastroenterology and fully trained in all modalities of GI care. Granite Peaks Gastroenterology is committed to providing exceptional quality of care through medical excellence, impeccable service, compassion and the use of state-of-the-art technology in a welcoming environment.

Dr. R. Kyle Barnett

Dr. Barnett attended Texas Tech University for his undergraduate studies and then graduated from Texas Tech University School of Medicine with his medical degree in 1987. He completed his internship and residency with board certification in the field of internal medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine in 1990. He is involved in GI research as well as the inpatient and outpatient practice of gastroenterology- including gastrointestinal, biliary, liver and pancreatic disorders. He is on the active staff at Alta View and Lone Peak hospital and is on all insurance panels in Utah. “Gastroenterologists face a number of challenges in their daily routine, and that certainly contributed to my wanting to become a GI specialist. I enjoy a good challenge… and the rewards of being able to have a direct and positive impact on how people feel and on the quality of the lives they lead. For more than a decade and a half, I’ve enjoyed what I do. A big part of this is knowing that it is important and does make a difference, which is why I strive always to provide the very highest level of care of each and every person I see. I try to understand what each individual is dealing with. Then I start building a relationship of trust and genuine compassion.  The best care and outcomes depend on both physician and patient being personally invested in making sure things are done thoroughly, conscientiously an correctly.”

Dr. Christopher Cutler

Dr. Cutler received a B.S. in psychology from the University of Michigan in 1984. He completed his gastroenterology fellowship in 1995 at Indiana University of Indianapolis. He is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. Dr. Cutler has been practicing gastroenterology in Utah since 1995 and is experienced in all aspects of gastroenterology, digestive diseases and digestive health. He is on the staff at Alta View Hospital, Lone Peak Hospital, and is a participating physician on all insurance panels in Utah. “Your digestive health is a vital component of your overall health, comfort, and physical and mental well-being. Whether a patient feels perfectly healthy and visits me for a screening colonoscopy or has digestive difficulties, as a Board-Certified Gastroenterologist, I apply my extensive experience, training, and expertise and the most recent advances in my field to a thoughtful assessment and diagnosis of each individual. We will discuss “conventional” medical approaches and complementary “alternative” approaches to determine the best options for you. In many cases- as in colon disease screening with colonoscopy- early intervention and treatment can prevent the development of disease. Gastroenterology is especially rewarding because my patients benefit from my knowledge, experience, and use of the latest research and technology in this quickly-evolving medical specialty. For my patients with digestive disorders, I can prescribe a course of action which provides immediate relief, often restoring patients to symptom-free, normal lives. It is gratifying for me when, several times each day, patients say to me, “If only I had known the exam (or treatment) would be this easy, I would have made an appointment with you a long time ago.”

Dr. Steven Desautels

Dr. Steven Desautels received his bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of Florida in 1986. He is board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology. He has been participating in GI research, as well as the inpatient and outpatient practice of gastroenterology in Utah since 1997. He is highly experienced in all aspects of gastroenterology and liver disease. He is active on the staff of Alta View Hospital, Riverton Hospital, and is a participating physician on all insurance panels in Utah. “I became a physician for the simple reason that I wanted to do something for others, to make a difference in their lives. With disorders of the digestive tract, people’s lives are changed in a very fundamental way. Pain. Discomfort. Irregular habits. And a wide variety of symptoms that range from unpleasant and embarrassing to disruptive and debilitating. These are people who truly need help… and an improved quality of life. This is my motivation as a physician, and it’s the commitment I make to everyone in my care.”

Dr. Andrew Heiner

Dr. Heiner attended UCLA and BYU, receiving a B.S. in zoology in 1983. In 1987, he earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch. He then completed his internal medicine training at the University of Utah and stayed here to complete his gastroenterology and has been practicing gastroenterology in Salt Lake City since 1992. He is active on the staff of Alta View Hospital, and Lone Peak Hospital, and is a participating physician on all insurance panels in Utah. “After nearly 20 years of practicing GI medicine, what I enjoy most is that I’m able to achieve my goal of providing meaningful help to people in need. Quite often, people are surprised that relief and improvement in significant improvement in their GI symptoms. But providing that difference means being dedicated to doing things as well as they can be done. I approach every person who puts their trust in me as I would a loved one. I pay attention to the details. I help put them at east. And I truly listen. Experience has shown me that patients will almost always tell me enough to make an accurate diagnosis, which is where medical excellence- and appropriate and successful care- begin.”

Dr. J. David Schmidt

Dr. Schmidt received his B.A. in biology from the University of Vermont in 1996. In 2000, he received his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He completed his internship and residency at the Lankenau Hospital in 2004 in Wynnewood, PA, where he also served as chief medical resident. He is active on the staff of Lone Peak Hospital, Riverton Hospital, and is a participating physician on all insurance panels in Utah. “My goal as a physician is to provide the highest quality of care to every one of my patients. There is, of course, much that goes into achieving this objective. Skill. Knowledge. Capability. And dedication. I believe the best care is that which is delivered with a genuine compassion for each person’s individual needs, health and life. For me, this starts by listening. I need to know what’s going on, how it affects you, what your concerns and sensibilities are and all the other things that are intertwined with your gastrointestinal problems. But it’s also key to being truly present and involved in your care and to being a partner in helping you get back to what’s important: living- and enjoying- your life.”

May Marschner, PA-C

“As a PA working in Gastroenterology, my goal is to work with the doctors, medical staff, and our patients to help deliver the best care possible. I think there is a lot of overlap between GI and other areas of medicine, so while I focus on GI complaints, I still try to keep the big picture in mind for overall health and wellness. I strive to educate patients, answering their questions, and make sure they are up to date on preventative screenings, like colonoscopies. I also consult with my supervising physicians on a daily basis, and as a team; we work together to come up with individual plans for each patient. Lastly, I like to connect with our patients to make sure they are happier when they leave, than when they arrived.”

May has an undergraduate degree from Rhodes College in Memphis Tennessee, Post-Bachelor Study from University of New Orleans, in Louisiana,  and a Graduate Degree from the University of Utah in Physician Assistant Studies. May is accepting new patients and can be seen at the Granite Peaks clinic at 9829 South 1300 East in Sandy, Utah.

GI Nurses & Associates Appreciation Week

March 24th-28th is National Gastroenterology Nurses & Associates Appreciation Week!

Monday, March 24th: Spreading the Word: Awareness Day

Tuesday, March 25th: Time out for Education Day

Wednesday, March 26th: Celebrating You: GI Nurses and Associates Day

Thursday, March 27th: Honoring Patient Safety: Infection Prevention Day

Friday, March 28th: Building a Stronger Future: Evidence-based Practice Day

Granite Peaks GI.com would like to thank all of our staff for all of the hard work they do every day. Our physicians are Dr. Kyle Barnett, Dr. Christopher Cutler, Dr. Steven Desautels, Dr. Andrew Heiner, and Dr. David Schmidt.  Our new Physician Assistant, May Marschner PA-C has been a wonderful addition to our team!

 

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