HEALTH IN
OUR HANDS
The Arkansas State University Wellness Program Newsletter
www.clt.astate.edu/wellness
Contents:
Gastrointestinal
Disorders - Part One
Heartburn
and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- Symptoms
-
Reasons to Suspect GERD
-
Common Causes
-
Treatment
-
Lifestyle Modifications
Colon Cancer
-
Risk Factors
- Symptoms
-
Prevention
Newsletter
Sources
Important
Insurance Information
University News
Gastrointestinal Disorders - Part One
The staff of the Employee Wellness
Program would like to wish everyone a safe and Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year.
Gastrointestinal disorders
affect millions of people every year. These disorders can cause pain,
embarrassment, and even hospitalization. This newsletter will be
the first in a two-part series that will discuss various gastrointestinal
problems, their symptoms, and available treatments. Today our focus
will be on heartburn, gastrointestinal esophageal reflux disease, and colon
cancer.
Heartburn and Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease
One of the most common gastrointestinal
symptoms is heartburn. This problem affects approximately 40% of
Americans at least once a month. Heartburn can be simply a symptom,
or it can represent a serious disease called gastro-esophageal
reflux disease (GERD).
Some of the most frequent symptoms
of heartburn include the following:
1) A sour or burning sensation in the upper abdomen or
chest
2) A sour or burning sensation that travels into the
neck or mouth and can be associated with food sticking or acid regurgitation
3) Sour or burning sensation that is worse after meals,
while lying down at night, or during exercise that requires bending over.
GERD can be associated with esophageal
ulcers, esophageal bleeding, narrowing of the esophagus, and possibly a
premalignant condition called Barrett’s esophagus. There are certain
clues that can tell you when your symptoms of heartburn
are serious enough to visit a doctor. These symptoms
include:
1) Heartburn at least twice a week
2) Heartburn that does not improve with antacids or over-the-counter
medicines
3) Heartburn associated with food sticking, weight loss,
or low blood count
Heartburn and GERD have actual
physical causes, but these problems can be worsened by bad food choices.
The usual physical cause of these problems is the frequent relaxation of
a muscular valve in the lower esophagus. This faulty valve allows
acid from the stomach to travel up into the esophagus. Other causes
can be a weak esophagus muscle, lack of saliva, slow emptying of the stomach,
or large hiatal hernias.
For generally healthy people,
heartburn can be made worse by poor eating habits and lifestyle choices.
Some aggravating factors include:
1) Cigarette smoking
2) Obesity
3) Certain foods such as chocolate, peppermint, spicy
foods, tomato products, citrus products, coffee, and fried or fatty foods
4) Some types of people will experience heartburn more
than others. Two examples of this include the elderly and pregnant
women.
There are many ways to treat
heartburn and related problems. Over-the-counter antacids and new
H2 blockers are effective and safe products for treating occasional heartburn
symptoms. Antacids work more rapidly, but H2 blockers are longer
acting. For this reason, H2 blockers should be taken prior to meals
or activities that could cause heartburn symptoms to occur. These
over-the-counter drugs should not be used daily because they may have significant
side effects such as diarrhea, altered calcium metabolism, and magnesium
retention when used in excess. For patients with mild heartburn,
lifestyle changes are usually the best choice of treatment.
GERD is a more serious problem that
many people do not take seriously enough. If you experience
any of the signs of GERD listed previously, see a doctor. Physicians
can prescribe various types of medications for people with GERD. Antireflux
surgery strengthens the weak muscular valve in the esophagus, but this
intervention is only performed as a last resort.
As previously mentioned, lifestyle
changes may be enough to control mild heartburn in otherwise healthy individuals.
Some of the most common lifestyle changes recommended are:
1) Raise the head of the bed.
2) Change eating and sleeping habits. Do not eat
for at least two hours before bedtime.
3) Avoid tight clothing.
4) Change your diet and avoid problem foods.
5) Stop habits such as excessive alcohol intake and smoking.
Colon cancer has become the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. This cancer does not favor men or women or any certain race. One of the most dangerous aspects of colon cancer is that it often comes without any warning signs or symptoms. People over age 50 are more susceptible to colon cancer. This disease is highly treatable IF it is discovered very early.
There are several risk factors
that can increase the chance of developing colon cancer. These
include:
1) Family history of colon cancer or of polyps in the
colon
2) Familial Polyposis Coli Syndrome
3) Personal history of colon polyps
4) Personal history of Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative
colitis
Usually symptoms of colon cancer
do not show up until the disease has become very advanced. If you
experience any of the signs or symptoms, please see your doctor as soon
as possible.
1) Rectal bleeding or pain
2) Unexplained anemia
3) Unexplained weight loss
4) Change in regular bowel habits
5) New onset of lower abdominal pains
Regular screenings are the key
to preventing the advancement of colon cancer. Common tests for this
cancer include fecal occult blood tests, sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy.
Doctors usually recommend an initial fecal occult blood test and sigmoidoscopy
at age 50. Every adult over age 50 should have a sigmoidoscopy screening
every 5 years and an annual fecal occult blood test for microscopic bleeding
or a colonoscopy every ten years. High risk individuals should
have a yearly fecal occult blood test and sigmoidoscopy. Screening
for high risk patients should begin at age 40 or 10 years younger than
the youngest family member affected with the disease.
Research studies are currently
being conducted to link certain foods with the development of colon cancer.
While these studies are ongoing, many experts make the following recommendations
based on preliminary findings.
1) Reduce animal fat in your diet.
2) Increase vegetable and fiber intake.
3) Increase calcium and folic acid intake.
** Sources for this newsletter include:
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal
Disorders, http://www.iffgd.org
American College of Gastroentology
http://www.acg.gi.org
American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org
Important Insurance Information
As many of you already know,
insurance costs for ASU employees will be increased as of January 1, 2002.
One reason for this increase in costs is the rising number of emergency
room visits by insured employees and their families. In 1999-2000,
there were 162 non-emergency visits to the ER. In 2000-2001, there
have already been 220 non-emergency visits to the ER.
An average office visit to a
physician costs $45. An average visit to the emergency room costs
$216.38. Costs for emergency room visits continue to rise.
It is very important to consider whether an illness requires emergency
care before going to the emergency room. Many illnesses can be handled
by a physician in a regular office visit. Reducing the number of
non-emergency room ER visits will help keep costs down.
University
News
** The American
Heart Association Heart Walk has been rescheduled for Saturday, March
30, 2002. Look for more information in upcoming newsletters.
ooOoo
The Arkansas
State University Employee Wellness Newsletter is published monthly
during the academic year by the College
of Nursing and Health Professions. Health questions can be addressed
to Dean Susan Hanrahan, Ph. D., ext. 3112 or
hanrahan@astate.edu.
Produced by Kimberly McGaughey, graduate student in the
College of Nursing and Health Professions, Physical Therapy Program.