Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common digestive condition caused by a dysfunction of the ring of muscle between the lower esophagus and the stomach called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). When the LES doesn’t work correctly – meaning it stays open for too long or relaxes too often – stomach acid can travel back up into the esophagus, causing heartburn, indigestion, difficulty swallowing, or the regurgitation of food. In addition to impacting your quality of life, untreated GERD can lead to digestive complications or even cancer.
Most people with GERD take antacids and over-the-counter or prescription medications that reduce acid production or help the esophagus heal. Long-term use of any medicine can have side effects that lead to other health problems, so some GERD sufferers are looking for new treatment options. Dr. Nirav Naik, FACS at New Life Medical in Bakersfield, California offers a drug-free solution for our patients called the LINX® Reflux Management System.
The LINX Reflux Management System consists of a quarter-sized medical device that is implanted by laparoscopic (minimally invasive) surgery. The device is like a flexible bracelet made of titanium beads with magnetic cores, and the entire ring is expandable. LINX is placed around the LES to help strengthen it and to prevent food from the stomach from flowing back into the esophagus. By stopping the reflux, a patient’s GERD symptoms should improve. LINX comes in different sizes. Dr. Naik chooses the one that will fit you best, making the entire system more efficient.
When you swallow, food or liquids move through the esophagus down toward the stomach. Pressure inside the esophagus increases, which causes the LINX magnetic beads to move apart and lessen their magnetic force, allowing the food or liquids to go through normally. After the food or liquids enter the stomach, the magnetic beads pull toward each other and the opening closes, stopping reflux.
LINX is made to be a permanent solution for GERD, especially for those who experience GERD on a frequent basis and haven’t been getting relief with medications or for those who are concerned about long-term medication use. It provides a drug-free solution that lessens the risk of complications from GERD by controlling acid reflux, and it improves quality of life. According to Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices, a five-year study of 100 LINX patients showed significant improvement in quality of life and a decrease in heartburn from 89% at baseline to 11.9%.
The US Food and Drug Administration-approved device may be recommended as a safer and simpler method of preventing acid reflux and GERD than other surgical procedures. It also preserves the body’s normal digestive system anatomy and physiological functions like belching or vomiting. While belching and vomiting are unpleasant, they serve an important function in our bodies – letting out excess air that could lead to pain or nausea, and the body ridding itself of toxins. By helping your body work the way it’s supposed to with minimal side effects, LINX offers a permanent solution for GERD sufferers,
If you’re ready to try a drug-free solution that could permanently remedy GERD, consider the LINX Reflux Management System at New Life Medical. Contact us today to set up a consultation to learn more about how this life-altering GERD treatment can help you. Call us now at 661-230-8306 or use our convenient and easy online booking tool.
