Among the many specialty clinics provided by Bluffton Hospital is one focusing on GERD, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Dr. Jessica Reynolds, M.D., of Surgical Associates of Northwest Ohio, Findlay,  sees patients in the Bluffton Hospital specialty clinic on Mondays and Thursdays.

GERD is caused by a weak muscle in the esophagus. It allows acid and bile to flow back from the stomach into the esophagus. That causes damage to the lining of the esophagus, throat and lungs.

A Toledo native, Dr. Reynolds, said that GERD can develop at any age. “Factors that increase the likelihood of its development include being overweight and eating certain foods such as tomatoes, citrus, coffee, alcohol and carbonated beverages,” she said in an interview with the Icon. “However, it can also be genetic.”

While not all GERD patients experience heartburn, it is the most common symptom, said Dr. Reynolds.

Other symptoms include bad breath, chest or abdominal pain, difficulty or pain when swallowing, nausea, teeth erosion and vomiting.

“I see patients from adolescents to adults,” she said. With adolescents the focus is on medical management rather than surgery.

Dr. Reynolds said that endoscopic procedures and minimally invasive surgery can be performed on adult patients with chronic GERD to relieve symptoms.

“Among our focuses is to prevent esophageal cancer,” she said, adding that GERD had gained much medical attention over the past 10 years and several new technologies and therapies are now available.

When therapy fails, the other option is surgery. One of those is LINX, a reflux management system.

“LINX is a minimally invasive surgery,” she said, adding that it involves placing a band with magnetic beads around the esophagus to encourage the muscles to stay tight until the patient swallows.

When swallowing occurs, the beads expand to allow food and liquids to pass into the stomach normally before tightening again.

A GERD telephone hotline is available to assist patients. That number in Findlay is 419-423-GERD (4373).

Patients may see Dr. Reynolds in Bluffton by appointment or through doctor referrals.

Surgical Associates of Northwest Ohio
300 W. Wallace St., Suite B1, Findlay
419-423-5313

Blanchard Valley Medical Practice Bluffton Specialty Clinic
139 Garau St., Bluffton
419-369-2299