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Mercy gastroenterologist Dr. Patrick Hyatt

Mercy Gastroenterologist Dr. Patrick Hyatt Discusses "Silent Reflux" On "The Woman's Doctor"

Acid Reflux is a common condition where acid from your stomach refluxes back into your esophagus — which for most people causes heartburn.

According to gastroenterologist Dr. Patrick Hyatt of The Institute for Digestive Health and Liver Disease at Mercy, these patients may display symptoms, but sometimes not the typical ones such as cough, hoarseness and allergy type symptoms.

Diagnosis can sometimes be difficult. Dr. Hyatt noted that there are a lot of patients "who have both heartburn and cough, which makes it easier."

"You treat the heartburn and see if the cough gets better, but then there’s a group without heartburn, no typical symptoms and the question is, is Laryngopharyngeal reflux causing their cough," he said.

If symptoms don’t improve with anti-acid medications, more tests are needed. It is important to get treatment, as reflux can lead to esophageal cancer.

To learn more and to view Dr. Hyatt’s interview online, click this link: http://www.wbaltv.com/womansdoctor/28371968/detail.html.