Medical practitioners have warned people not to disregard persistent heartburns and indigestion as this may be harbouring a medical disorder in need of more attention.
This was said by a group of doctors and pharmacists during a symposium organised by Reckitt Benckiser, a British Multinational consumer goods company and the maker on Dettol hand wash, due to an upsurge in the number of new and recurrent cases of illnesses affecting the digestive system.
Country Manager for Kenya (East Africa at Reckitt Benckiser) Richard Pereira said that their decision to organise and host the conference was after statistics had shown that most over the counter medication bought by those with Reflux Disease, was not effective in the treatment.
Addressing the participants, consultant in gastrointestinal matters and lecturer at the University of Nairobi’s School of Medicine, Prof. Godfrey Lule, said that there had been a notable increase in the new and recurrent cases of Reflux Disorder, due to adoption of new lifestyles. “Changing lifestyles have seen more people turning to very spicy foods. This coupled with other factors such as stress, alcohol consumption and smoking, has seen more people suffer from illnesses relating to the digestive system and particularly Reflux disorder”, said Lule.
In the symposium dubbed effective management of the Gastro-Eosophageal Reflux Disorder (GERD) the President of the Association of Gastrointestinal Physiologists in the UK, Dr. Robert C Heading, said that most physicians tend to underestimate patient’s symptom burden and overestimate symptom improvement with treatment.
“If the symptoms are mild and infrequent, lifestyle changes, antacids and alginates should be used. If these are inadequate, acid suppression should be considered, and if this does not work, then there is need to review the patients history and recommend second medication”, he said.
Participants said that as a result, a majority of patients have been experiencing recurrent episodes of discomfort in the stomach. This affects productivity at work and in schools as well as exposing themselves to the risk need for prolonged medication or surgery.
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