GERD–Patients Suffer For Two Years Before Seeking Treatment
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease — GERD.
I was interested in this recent report that Gerd suffers often wait for two years before seeking treatment.
People are suffering with distressing symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for an average of two years before seeking treatment or any care and advice from their primary care physician.
Results from the Burning Desires survey, revealed today, indicate that this may be due to a perception amongst sufferers that while over-the-counter medications are effective, prescription medications will not help.
This is despite the fact that prescription medication in the form of proton pump inhibitors has been proven to provide relief from one of the main symptoms of GERD - heartburn - within five days in most people.
Symptoms such as heartburn place a considerable burden on sufferers’ lives, with more than 80 percent of those surveyed having made lifestyle modifications, such as avoiding certain foods, to try to control their symptoms as part of the treatment.
Commenting on the results of the survey, Professor Roger Jones, Wolfson Professor of General Practice, King’s College London said that the results of the survey highlight that many GERD patients are suffering unnecessarily.
“There is a mistaken belief amongst many GERD sufferers that prescription medications will not be able to help them, as they feel they can control their symptoms with over the counter remedies. However, these remedies only relieve occasional heartburn and should not be relied upon for long-term symptom control.
It is important that sufferers visit their physician to discuss their disease as they may be prescribed a more effective treatment, such as proton pump inhibitor therapy, which can have a significant impact on controlling symptom severity and improving quality of life.”
