Not getting a good night’s sleep can negatively impact your day and those around you. For starters, it can make you moody and crabby, interfere with your ability to focus; it can also raise your risk of accidents and falls.
For those who have recurrent acid reflux or chronic reflux — also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) — sleep issues are common. Nighttime reflux affects about 25% of the general population, and up to 70% of people with GERD.
At Michael Sutker, MD, in Dallas, Texas, board-certified general surgeon Dr. Michael Sutker offers the LINX® Reflux Management System to help resolve persistent acid reflux issues so you can get a good night’s sleep once again.
Acid reflux occurs when acid escapes from your stomach and travels backward, up into your esophagus (the tube that connects your mouth to your stomach). This acid creeps back up when your lower esophageal sphincter (LES) doesn’t do its job. Normally, your LES opens to let food into your stomach, and closes to keep it in there.
One acid reflux trigger is lying down after a meal, which relaxes your LES and allows stomach acid to flow back into your esophagus. Acid reflux can cause you to awaken with a burning sensation in your chest, a sour taste in your mouth, a cough, or the need to clear your throat.
Initial treatment for acid reflux involves medications as well as lifestyle changes, such as avoiding meals two hours before bedtime and raising your head when you sleep. If these strategies fail to deliver consistent, lasting relief from acid reflux, the LINX procedure may be your next best step.
Many people with GERD continue to experience heartburn even with medication. The LINX device is a band of small, flexible magnetic balls that looks like a metallic silver bracelet. During a LINX procedure, Dr. Sutker implants this band around your weakened LES, just above your stomach.
When you swallow, the band expands to allow food to pass into your stomach. Then, the magnetic beads tighten around your LES to keep it closed and help prevent reflux. Research shows that the LINX procedure is highly effective in controlling acid reflux in most people.
To learn more about the LINX procedure and find out if you’re a good candidate for the procedure, call Michael Sutker, MD, in Dallas, Texas, today, or use our online booking feature to request an appointment at your convenience.
