Most reflux is ordinary, even when it’s stubborn. But there’s a rare condition that sits at the far extreme of the spectrum — Zollinger-Ellison syndrome — where a small tumour drives the stomach to pour out enormous amounts of acid, producing severe reflux and ulcers that shrug off ordinary …
Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome: When Reflux Isn’t Ordinary Read More
Not everything that feels like reflux or indigestion actually is, and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is one of the most commonly missed impostors. EPI is what happens when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough digestive enzymes to break down food — particularly fat. The symptoms it causes, though, are frustratingly …
EPI and Acid Reflux: The Misdiagnosis Worth Ruling Out Read More
If you have hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) or postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS), there’s a good chance reflux has come along for the ride — and it’s not a coincidence. These conditions travel together as a recognised cluster, and reflux is one of the most common threads running through all …
EDS, POTS and Acid Reflux: Why They Travel Together Read More
Scleroderma causes some of the most severe, stubborn reflux in all of medicine, and the reason comes down to one thing: the oesophagus loses its ability to move. In systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), the smooth muscle of the lower oesophagus is gradually replaced by scar tissue. The muscle that should …
Health anxiety and acid reflux feed each other, and the engine that keeps the cycle turning is something that feels helpful but isn’t: checking. When reflux gives you a lump in the throat, a burning chest or a tickle that won’t clear, health anxiety makes you monitor it — …
Health Anxiety and Acid Reflux: Breaking the Cycle Read More
Gut-directed hypnotherapy can genuinely help reflux symptoms — but only a specific kind, and it’s worth understanding why. It doesn’t lower your stomach acid, tighten a valve, or clear pepsin. What it does is retrain the brain-gut connection so your oesophagus stops over-reporting sensations as pain. That makes it …
Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy for Reflux: Does It Work? Read More