Acid Reflux and Heartburn in 30 Minutes : A Guide to Acid Reflux, Heartburn, and GERD for Patients and Families

Heartburn and acid reflux affect tens of millions of Americans, disrupting sleep, meals, and daily life. Acid Reflux and Heartburn In 30 Minutes is written by J. Thomas Lamont, M.D., a gastroenterologist and Harvard Medical School Professor who has treated thousands of patients with heartburn, acid reflux, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Using plain-English explanations and real patient case studies, Dr. Lamont walks patients and families through what causes reflux, how it is diagnosed, and what treatment options are available — from lifestyle changes and medications to surgery.

This gold Benjamin Franklin Award-winning guide is not a do-it-yourself treatment manual. A doctor is needed to diagnose and manage serious reflux. But if you want to understand what your physician is recommending and why — or simply make sense of a confusing diagnosis — this is the book to read first.

Who This Book Is For

• Frequent heartburn sufferers who want to understand what is happening and what their options are
• Patients diagnosed with GERD or acid reflux preparing to discuss treatment with their doctor
• Pregnant women experiencing heartburn and looking for safe management guidance
• Patients whose medications are not working who want to understand refractory GERD and surgical alternatives
• Family members and caregivers supporting someone managing chronic acid reflux

What This Book Covers

• How the stomach works and why acid reflux occurs
• Heartburn symptoms and how they vary among patients
• Diagnostic procedures: barium swallow, upper endoscopy, Bravo pH probe, and esophageal manometry
• Trigger foods and dietary changes for reflux control
• Acid-blocking medications: H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), and managing acid rebound
• Side effects of acid blockers, including the Alzheimer's disease question
• Barrett's Esophagus and the risk for esophageal cancer
• Refractory GERD, bile reflux, and Helicobacter infection
• Surgical treatment of reflux, including the LINX device
• Four patient case studies covering a range of reflux scenarios and outcomes
• A glossary of terms and medications, and a research and data section

Common Questions This Book Answers

• What is the difference between heartburn, acid reflux, and GERD?
• What foods trigger acid reflux and which should I avoid?
• Can acid-blocking medications cause Alzheimer's disease?
• What happens when PPIs stop working for GERD?
• What is Barrett's Esophagus and how serious is it?
• What surgical options are available for chronic acid reflux?
• Is heartburn during pregnancy dangerous?

The book includes a glossary of terms and medications and a research and data section for readers who want to go deeper.

If heartburn or acid reflux is affecting your quality of life, this award-winning guide is an ideal place to start.

About the author: J. Thomas Lamont, M.D. received his medical degree from the University of Rochester and completed training at UCLA and Massachusetts General Hospital. He joined the faculty of Harvard Medical School in 1974 and currently serves as Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Chief of Gastroenterology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.

WINNER OF A GOLD BEN FRANKLIN AWARD! If you or a family member are among the millions of people suffering from heartburn, acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), you are dealing with discomfort that impacts eating, sleeping, and other aspects of daily life. In Acid Reflux & Heartburn In 30 Minutes, author, doctor, and Harvard Medical School Professor J. Thomas Lamont, M.D. uses plain-English explanations and case studies to explain the basics of heartburn and acid reflux, from causes to medical options. Topics in this acid reflux book include:

• How your stomach works
• How reflux occurs
• Heartburn symptoms
• Modern methods to diagnose acid reflux
• Trigger foods to avoid and acid reflux diets
• Lifestyle changes for reflux control
• Acid reflux pillow, bed, and sleeping tips
• Antacids for heartburn relief, and medical approaches to heartburn
• Acid reflux medicines, from acid blockers to PPIs
• Surgical procedures to diagnose and correct acid reflux

The author also describes four cases involving heartburn and acid reflux. Through the stories of an obese patient, a new mother, a 64-year-old suffering from severe acid reflux, and a college student, you’ll learn how heartburn and GERD impact the lives of ordinary people, the types of treatment that are available, and what the road to recovery looks like. While some patients experience heartburn and other acid reflux symptoms on a daily basis and despair that they will ever recover, there are in fact a range of options that can offer heartburn relief. Acid Reflux & Heartburn In 30 Minutes is not a do-it-yourself guide—a doctor is needed to diagnose serious cases of acid reflux and GERD. However, this acid reflux book can help you understand what your doctor is recommending and why. If you or a loved one has acid reflux, Acid Reflux & Heartburn In 30 Minutes can be an invaluable and expert resource to help you understand and deal with heartburn and acid reflux symptoms. If your goal is to have heartburn no more, this book about acid reflux is an ideal place to start. IN 2019, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) announced that Acid Reflux & Heartburn In 30 Minutes has been named the recipient of a gold Benjamin Franklin award for excellence in publishing. The book, authored by J. Thomas Lamont, M.D. of Harvard Medical School, was the winner in the health & fitness category. Other category finalists included books published by Johns Hopkins University Press and the American Academy of Pediatrics.