(Ivanhoe Newswire) – Acid reflux and heartburn can be uncomfortable, especially for people living with gastro esophageal reflux disease who have to deal with these digestive problems over and over again. However, a new device may be able to offer GERD patients long-awaited relief from their troublesome symptoms. 

 

The new device tested in a recent study uses magnets to augment the lower esophageal sphincter, which is the smooth muscle fibers that attach the esophagus to the stomach. In the study 100 GERD patients were examined prior to receiving the device and after the device augmented the sphincter. 

 

Although the device had to be taken out of six of the participants due to serious negative side effects, 93% of the participants had less of a need to use proton-pump inhibitors, medicine which reduces the amount of stomach acid, and 92% reported an improvement in their quality of life after receiving the device. 

 

Study results indicate that GERD patients should be able to better control the symptoms of their disease using the magnetic device leading to less digestive problems, but this is only the data collected after three years of a five year study. Researchers will continue to look at the new device to ensure that it will not only help people with GERD, but is also safe for long time use. 

 

Source: New England Journal of Medicine, February 2013 

 

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