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| |  Patients Ignoring Potentially Serious Consequences Of Chronic Heartburn CHICAGO, IL -- November 4, 1997 -- Although one in five adults have tried over-the-counter acid suppressing drugs since they were first introduced two years ago, a new study suggests more people than ever before may be suffering from persistent and frequent heartburn. The study also found many of these heartburn sufferers use over-the-counter (OTC) medications on a regular basis, even though they may not be getting adequate symptom resolution. The number of adults who suffer frequently from heartburn has climbed from 19 million to 21 million in the past two years, according to a Louis Harris and Associates study conducted for Astra Merck. While they may reach into their medicine cabinet for relief, the majority of these heartburn sufferers claim the more recently available OTC acid suppressing medications have not provided adequate relief of their symptoms. The results of the study were released today at the American College of Gastroenterology's (ACG) Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago. "Heartburn should not be casually dismissed as a minor nuisance," said Joel Richter, MD, chairman of the department of gastroenterology at The Cleveland Clinic. "While people who have occasional episodes of heartburn can find relief with over-the-counter medications, those who suffer from heartburn on two days a week or more need to see a physician because they may have a more serious problem, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), that requires more specialized medical treatment. "Ignoring the problem can lead to serious problems including esophageal erosions, asthma, laryngitis and even Barrett's esophagus, a precursor to cancer." Nearly twice as many adults with persistent and frequent heartburn report having asthma symptoms compared to the general adult population, according to the study. Similarly, the number of adults claiming to have experienced laryngitis rises from one-fourth of all adults to one-third of people with chronic heartburn. "If regurgitated acid ends up in the lungs, as can happen with people who have GERD, an individual may develop asthma-like symptoms," Dr. Richter explained. Heartburn is the most common symptom of GERD. People who have GERD have repeated episodes of stomach acid backing up into the esophagus, or food tube, causing the burning sensation behind the breastbone known as heartburn. Regurgitated acid often results in a sour taste in the back of the mouth, difficulty swallowing, coughing, choking, hoarseness and chest pain. Since episodic heartburn is a common problem, the more serious, chronic problems are often misunderstood and underestimated by patients. Heartburn is a symptom of what many people consider to be a harmless, self-inflicted ailment caused by diet or lifestyle. Consumers' lack of concern was supported by the study which found more than 70 percent of Americans believe all heartburn cases can be self-treated with OTC heartburn remedies. One-third believe OTC medications can be taken as often as necessary. Nearly two-thirds believe physicians prescribe the same medications that are already available to consumers on pharmacy shelves. For people who suffer from serious, chronic problems, seeing the physician and receiving appropriate treatment for symptoms is very important. While two-thirds of people who only experience heartburn occasionally say their acid suppressing medication is very effective, only slightly more than a third of frequent sufferers reported the same degree of relief.
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