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Symptoms of acid reflux should not be taken lightly, says expert

It is the increasingly sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits that result in the disruption of our general digestive process.

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A 26-year-old Pakistani male, F.J., had been suffering from irritation in the throat, sensation of  lump in the throat, burping and upper abdominal discomfort - all that were responding poorly to treatments.
On seeing his reports and examining him, Dr Amal Premchandra Upadhyay, consultant gastroenterologist at Aster Hospital Mankhool, knew it was not a normal case of acid reflux as the severe discomfort the patient suffered pointed towards the chronic digestive condition known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (Gerd). This is a condition when the stomach contents move up into the esophagus due to a defect in the valve between the stomach and the lower esophagus. If untreated or poorly controlled, it can lead to ongoing symptoms, poor quality of life and possibly serious complications.
It is the increasingly sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits that result in the disruption of our general digestive process and lead to heartburn and acid reflux.
Medication such as antacids provide only temporary relief. The next level of medication - acid blockers and proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) provide longer relief but is not a permanent solution. Also, continuous or too frequent use of these medications may cause other side effects.
A longer-lasting solution is surgery, however, for people who are not keen on surgery or those who cannot take medication for various reasons or wish to avoid medication, Stretta is the alternative.
"Stretta is a non-surgical procedure that uses radio frequency energy to alter the muscle between the stomach and esophagus and thus improve reflux. The procedure is guided endoscopically and it takes approximately 45 minutes. It is done under deep sedation so that maximum patient cooperation can be obtained and the patient can return back to normal everyday activities within a few days. The procedure helps the patient becomes less dependent on medication to treat his symptoms," said Dr Amal, explaining the procedure.
Although F.J.'s abdominal discomfort responded to treatment, it was the associated throat symptoms that were bothering the patient. The atypical nature of the symptoms also led to the delay in the patient seeking appropriate treatment. Dr Amal resorted to the Stretta procedure - an upcoming option for patients in the UAE who are suffering from reflux but are not comfortable with taking long term medications. "This is the first case where we have introduced the Stretta procedure to treat the patient at Aster Hospital Mankhool, Dr Amal told Khaleej Times.
Talking about the Stretta effect on the patient's health Dr Amal said: "The patient reported more than 50 per cent improvement in symptoms after the Stretta procedure. He had never experienced this kind of improvement with medications. Now, he is not completely dependent on medication to control his symptoms. This has significantly improved his quality of life and his ability to participate in normal activities without worrying about the repercussions.
He added: "Typically, patients start feeling the improvement in symptoms within a couple of days. Symptoms continue to improve over time and optimal benefit can take several weeks. Most patients will be able to live without medicines and some patients can manage with a smaller dose of medicines after the procedure."
The hospital claims it sees an average of 28 to 30 patients with Gerd every month. This is close to double the number of cases they used to see one year ago. According to the scientific and research committee of the Emirates Gastroenterology Society, as of 2014, more than 30 per cent of the UAE population suffered from acid reflux.
"There is great potential for establishing the Stretta procedure as an option for patients in the UAE who are suffering from reflux but are not comfortable with taking long term medications. The procedure itself is internationally recognised as a unique and non-surgical procedure to help patients return to normal life within a few days."
The international success rate of Stretta is encouraging. Although in use for close to 15 years globally, Stretta is relatively new in the UAE and is gradually being introduced to other countries across the world. A study presented at the United European Gastroenterology Week (UEGW) in late 2016 showed significant relief from Gerd symptoms and elimination of PPI use in 71.9 per cent of patients 10 years after they had Stretta.

Work-life balance key to building happiness culture

Priya Arjun (Certified holistic wellness coach)
How does it feel to be part of an organisation which has happiness and 360-degree well-being of its employees at its core? And, what if the organisation takes its workplace well-being to nurture the community around?
Well-being, mistakenly equated with wellness, is a common practice to narrow its focus to fitness goals. But will gym memberships, boot camps, nutrition talks and a few allowances suffice to drive a person deliver his best?
Different dimensions of an employee's personality including passions and hobbies, and the priorities one needs to address as caretaker of an elderly parent, spouse, friend and community volunteer are all part of his or her well being. Though these are outside the work place, they are tangentially correlated to productivity.
A holistic happiness programme will address work-life balance, fulfillment of higher needs by fostering innovation and creativity; build a sense of ownership and loyalty and empowerment through engagement in decision making. It will also perpetuate values of gratitude, contentment, compassion and caring.
Can programmes be implemented at random without concrete data create a genuine feeling? Getting employees to share information on challenges in personal life and aspirations helps in rolling out targeted programmes. It could be whether they find time for health and leisure, pursuing talents, quality of social relationships, work environment, concerns on career direction and the pressures one is disposed to in terms of financial stability, parenting issues and mental resilience.
For happiness programmes to be dynamic, collaboration with community establishments helps. Ghanim Al Falasi, senior vice-president, people, happiness and innovation at the Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), said: "We have happiness labs, where the creative ideas of youth on a happy work environment they aspire for are experimented and integrated with our happiness programme. Towards this, we visit colleges and hold exchange forums".
He further added: "Happiness is interdependent and involves sharing of resources". Among its various drives to promote the well-being of neighbourhood, DSOA has set up community farming. Residents are allotted plots of land to grow their own produce.  In addition to taking care of water resource requirements, DSOA also encourages kitchen gardening in homes by providing hydroponics solutions.
"This initiative is intended to create a social impact .We are providing an opportunity for people to connect with each other, strengthen mutual bonding between neighbours and for the kids, to grow with the values of human interactions and connection with nature," added Al Falasi.
saman@khaleejtimes.com