Heartburn a concern among middle-aged

Heartburn is the new normal.

Acid reflux is on the rise in America, with 25 million people experiencing daily symptoms, according to the American Gastroenterology Association, up from 15 million only a decade ago. Another 60 million people say they have heartburn once a month.

That's a whole lot of tummy trouble. Blame stress and an aging population — and above all, experts say, blame Americans' habit of eating too much.

Turn 40, and suddenly conversations about digestive issues take on urgent fascination. Garlic just doesn't sit right any more. Or Mexican food or onions or red wine. Or all of the above.

The ubiquity of acid reflux has turned it into a touchstone of middle-aged American culture, with over-the-counter medications proliferating in TV commercials and a loony variety of remedies like magnetic bracelets offered over the Internet.

Relax, midlife Americans. It's not age. It's chronic overindulgence.

“There was one guy who came in, it turned out that it was Girl Scout cookie season,” said Dr. Ronald Hsu, a Sutter Roseville Medical Center gastroenterologist. “Instantly, we had a diagnosis.”

Extra weight around the middle is a major culprit behind chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease. More than 40 percent of the population reaches for antacids more than once or twice a week, suffering from heartburn serious enough to check out with the doctor.

But acid reflux can occur in any age group. Don Gloor, for example, remembers dealing with chronic heartburn as a college student whose diet included cheeseburgers and tequila.

“I always had a roll of Tums nearby, but I didn't really think about it,” said Gloor, now 53, who works for the state of California and lives in Carmichael. “As I mellowed out, it occurred less.”

Here's how acid reflux works: When the sphincter muscle at the top of the stomach is weak, acid can backwash into the esophagus during digestion, leading to a range of reflux-related symptoms — from heartburn and queasiness to coughing, asthma and a predisposition for hiccups.

The problem can be especially troublesome at night, with episodes of heartburn disrupting sleep. The solution? Don't go to bed with a full stomach: A light dinner eaten three hours before bedtime is a good idea. Also, avoid sleeping on your back.

“Anything that increases stomach pressure increases reflux,” Hsu said. “People who are more obese have more symptoms. Pregnant women can have more reflux.”

Even modest amounts of weight gain can lead to problems with acid reflux. Women with a body mass index of 25 to 27, considered only slightly overweight, are more than twice as likely to develop the disease, Boston University researchers have found.

So what to do? First, avoid mint-flavored antacids. Mint relaxes the valve between the stomach and the esophagus, worsening the problem.

For many people, losing weight eases the stomach pressure and resolves reflux. For others, avoiding chocolate, spicy foods, citrus, alcohol and caffeine — can help alleviate acid reflux symptoms.

A range of over-the-counter medications can help, too. Proton pump inhibitors, like Prilosec and Prevacid, can block the release of acid in the stomach and, taken regularly, provide long-term relief.

Unfortunately, for a small percentage of sufferers, chronic acid reflux is more than a discomfort — it's a factor in making esophageal cancer the fastest-growing cancer in the country.

Repeated exposure to stomach acid over many years can alter cells in the esophagus, leading to a disorder called Barrett's esophagus. Left untreated, it can contribute to the development of esophageal cancer.

There are only about 16,600 new cases a year, but experts consider it a particularly difficult cancer. More alarming, the incidence of esophageal cancer is rising quickly, while other cancer rates are decreasing, Hsu said.

Particularly at risk are middle-aged and elderly men with a long history of acid reflux and, much of the time, problems with obesity.

Dealing with acid reflux

Dealing with acid reflux

Ÿ Stop smoking.

Ÿ Cut down on the foods and liquids that can contribute to symptoms and further weaken the valve between the stomach and esophagus. These include spicy foods, chocolate, tomatoes, citrus and citrus juice, alcohol, caffeine and mint.

Ÿ Lose weight.

Ÿ Don't eat after 6 p.m.

Ÿ Don't sleep on your back and consider positioning yourself in bed so your head is several inches higher than your body.

Ÿ Antacids actually increase stomach acid. Stronger over-the-counter medications such as histamine-2 blockers may temporarily reduce symptoms. Proton pump inhibitors block the release of acid in the stomach and help for longer periods of time.

Ÿ If the problem is chronic, see a doctor.