All Natural Alginate Therapy for Long-Term Reflux Control

Standard medications to treat reflux include H2 blockers (peptcid, zantac) and proton pump inhibitors (prilosec, nexium, prevacid, protonix), but long-term use is typically not recommended since these medications can cause unacceptable side effects. (Watch video below to understand how these medications work.) An alternative all-natural and safer way to treat reflux long-term is with sodium alginate derived from seaweed. When taken after meals, it coats the esophagus and stomach lining, b…

10/21/2022 0

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Make Your Own Gaviscon Advance or Double Action for Reflux Control DIY

Image from Amazon Before getting into how to make Gaviscon Advance  or Gaviscon Double Action yourself from its component ingredients, you first need to understand how each ingredient contributes to reflux control. If you want to skip to the recipe, look below. Alginate's affects on improving reflux has been known about for decades. Initial scientific studies on how it improves reflux were conducted in the 1980s. Alginates are natural polysaccharide polymers isolated from brown…

11/18/2016 8

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Patients Who Travel a Long Distance for Care

Image courtesy of tigger11th at FreeDigitalPhotos.net In 2014, our practice made the difficult decision of no longer accepting new patients or performing any surgeries who live outside the Virginia region of the United States (specifically Northern Virginia) with the exception of a few conditions. The reasons are many in spite of what many (upset) patients felt to be an unwarranted geographic limitation. This blog tries to explain why we have taken this step which is still in effect today…

10/27/2015 0

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How Does Alginate Help Reflux?

Alginate's affects on improving reflux has been known about for decades. Initial scientific studies on how it improves reflux were conducted in the 1980s. Alginates are natural polysaccharide polymers isolated from brown seaweed ( Phacophycae ) and is classified as dietary fiber. Their ability to form viscous solutions and gels have led to their extensive use in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products for over one century. As it pertains to reflux, perhaps the most interesting …

4/02/2015 0

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30% of Patients with Reflux will NOT Respond to Medications

Specifically, patients who are suffering with throat symptoms of reflux will often not respond to proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) medications. Such throat symptoms include  throat-clearing , phlegmy throat , cough , hoarseness, and globus . Known as LPR (laryngopharyngeal reflux), a study was done measuring the pH at the throat level after 4+ weeks of twice daily PPI. This retrospective study found that although 67.4% had symptom normalization, 32.6% of patients showed no subjective or ob…

3/24/2014 0

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How Does Neuropathy Lead to Lump in Throat or Phlegmy Throat Sensation?

To preface, have you ever been to the dentist and received a novacaine injection prior to a dental procedure? Did you notice that where the injection is performed, it feels as if the area feels really swollen and also you feel like you are drooling... but than when you look in the mirror, there's no drooling and there's no swelling either? In this dental situation where novacaine got injected leading to a temporary induced neuropathy...  a similar phenomenon can also occur in the th…

5/29/2013 0

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Reflux Increases Risk of Throat Cancer by 78%

Brown University researchers found that frequent heartburn was an independent risk factor for not only esophageal cancer but also cancer of the throat and vocal cords. This conclusion was based on a large population study involving 631 patients with throat cancer and 1,234 without throat cancer as a control group. The study group also did not heavily smoke, drink, or have HPV (other independent risk factors for throat cancer). Individuals with frequent heartburn were found to have a 78%…

5/24/2013 1

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Does Milk Cause Increased Phlegm or Mucus Production?

For many individuals, milk and associated dairy products definitely seem to cause an increased production or thickening of mucus in the mouth and throat... the phlegmy throat . It certainly happens to me... Of course, perception is not always supported by research... "Milk and dairy product intake was not associated with an increase in upper or lower respiratory tract symptoms of congestion or nasal secretion weight. [...] We conclude that no statistically significant overall associa…

5/08/2013 3

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I Am Taking a Reflux Medication & My Symptoms are Not Improving!

On an almost daily basis, I get an email from somebody with the same exact question or near-variation: "Dear Dr. Chang,  I have been taking a [ insert reflux medication ] for [ insert number ] weeks and I see no improvement in my [ insert symptom ]. What should I do?" The reflux medication typically mentioned include nexium, dexilant, prilosec, prevacid, protonix, or some other proton pump inhibitor . The most common symptoms typically mentioned include: • Globus • …

2/24/2013 1

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Video on Zenker's Diverticulum Surgery (Endoscopic Staple Diverticulostomy)

Our office has produced a new video describing Endoscopic Staple Diverticulostomy to treat Zenker's Diverticulum. We have the unusual honor of having treated patients throughout the United States for this rare condition. Patients we have successfully treated have come from as far away as Oregon, New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Arizona, etc. For more information, please visit us here .

4/26/2012 0

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Reflux (Acid, Non-Acid, Mixed Types) in Neonates & How It May Also Apply to Adults

A study was published this month in the journal Pediatric Research which described reflux characteristics in neonates, but the findings can certainly be applied to adults as well. What I found gratifying about this study was not so much that reflux was evaluated, but what measurements obtained by  24 hour pH-impedance  were taken which apply just as much to adults as neonates. Just exactly what was measured and what did the study find (at least in neonates suspected of having reflux)? …

8/10/2011 0

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New Video on Esophageal Manometry and 24 Hour Multi-Channel pH and Impedance Testing

Our office has created a new video describing what a patient goes through when they undergo esophageal manometry as well as 24 hour multi-channel pH and impedance testing. This test is often ordered when a patient is suspected to be suffering from reflux , whether acid or non-acid , or is possibly suffering from abnormal muscle activity of the esophagus. Symptoms that a patient may experience that may lead to such testing include: - phlegmy throat - lump sensation in the throat - chr…

7/12/2011 1

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Mattress Wedges for Reflux Treatment

I often see patients with throat symptoms of reflux including: • Cough • Throat-Clearing • Phlegmy or Mucus Sensation in the Throat • Mild Sore Throat • Swollen sensation in the throat etc, etc, etc Although this can be treated with medications including proton pump inhibitors ( prilosec , prevacid ) as well as H2-blockers ( zantac , pepcid , axid , etc), there are some lifestyle changes which also can be just as if not more effective than medications. Such lifestyle changes includ…

7/24/2010 0

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