Health Uncle:What Is Acid Reflux Disease

Normally,a valve at the top of your stomach called the lower esophageal sphincter,or LES,closes when food passes through it,preventing stomach acid from escaping.In acid reflux disease,or gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD),the valve doesn't close completely or opens too often.
This faulty valve is most commonly caused by hiatil hernia,which is a displacement of part of the stomach above the diaphragm,or by a number of habits,such as eating big meals;lying down ,bending at the waist,or lying on your back after eating;eating bedtime snacks;eating citrus,tomato,chocolate,mint,garlic,onions,spicy and fatty food;drinking alcohol,soda,coffee or tea;smoking;pregnancy;taking aspirin,ibuprofen or blood pressure medication.Age is also a predsiposing factor in developing GERD.
The main symptoms of GERD are heartburn and/or regurgitation of acid into your throat or mouth,leaving a sour or bitter taste for several hours.If these happen twice or more weekly or are severe,you likely have GERD.Another common symptom of  GERD is dysphagia,a feeling of fullness in the throat when you swallow food.
If left untreated,GERD may eventually damage your esophagus.
Your physician may order tests such as endoscopy,a thin lighted tube with a camera on the end that is passed down your throat as far as your stomach so your upper digestive tract may be examined.
If over the counter antacids such as Rolaids or Mylanta don't work,in addition to dietary changes,other medications may be suggested or prescribed,such as Prilosec or Zantac.
In the worst cases,a surgery called fundoplication is available.This involves creating an artificial valve using the top of your stomach.It is a last resort.
Do not mix medications such as different antacids or antacids with other types of GERD medicines on your own.Consult your physician if you have severe GERD that doesn't respond to basic treatment with an antacid or if there is a question about what you have.

Pharma Focus

A severe influenza outbreak is sweeping across the U.S..What is worse,the strain of flu that is prevalent was not selected for this year's vaccine.This points to a better first quarter for pharmacy chains such as Rite Aid Corporation(RAD),which is led by CEO Mary Sammons and based in Camp Hill,Pennsylvania.Its stock has been trading for less than 3.00 U.S. a share recently.Earnings for Q4 2007 were low on account of warm autumn weather,which kept colds to a minimum,and cautious consumers.Typically,pharmacy chains need illness to drive substantial traffic into their stores.When patients or their families come in to pick up medicine,they buy other kinds of merchandise as well.Rite Aid,for example,carries many cosmetics and has a digital photography center.You can even get photo restoration for 29.99 with a coupon this week.Small electronics such as cell phones,MP3 players and blood pressure monitors are also offered.Rite Aid is striving to be first with new over-the-counter medicines.The hot item now is the allergy drug Zyrtec(cetirizine),which Rite Aid is selling in both branded and private label forms.While the branded form sells for 18.99,the private label goes for 7.99.Soon private label Prilosec(omeprazole) will be sold as well.While Rite Aid shares have been doing poorly,those of biotech drugmaker Genentech(DNA) have been appreciating lately,on news that clinical trial data show that its Avastin is effective in treating advanced breast cancer.The San Francisco Bay Area firm is seeking Food and Drug Administration approval for that usage.It is also testing Avastin in over a hundred additional trials for different applications.As a health care company,Genentech is seen as a defensive holding.Its powerful drugs will be needed regardless of recessionary conditions.In this morning's trading,shares of Rite Aid were up at 2.59,and Genentech shares were up at 73.05.