Your frequent heartburn or acid reflux could be a symptom of a common medical condition called GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). GERD happens when the muscle at the lower end of the long tube that connects your throat to your stomach (the esophagus) allows stomach acid to back up.

• Over time, the acid from reflux can damage the esophagus, and result in a condition called erosive esophagitis (EE). Left untreated, this damaged tissue can result in esophageal cancer.
• Current treatments are effective for many GERD patients, but they do not work for everyone.
• If you have GERD, you may also have a hidden danger called H. pylori. This damaging bacteria can live in your stomach for years and attack your stomach lining (which protects your stomach from acid). It often does not have symptoms. When there are symptoms, you may feel bloating and a burning pain in your belly that’s worse on an empty stomach.
• Once H. pylori has done enough damage, acid can get through the lining and cause ulcers. These ulcers may bleed or keep food from moving properly through the digestive tract. If untreated, H. pylori infection can also lead to stomach cancer.

Right now, local study doctors want to learn if study medications can help heal tissue damage due to stomach acid “backing up” into the esophagus. Researchers also want to see if the study medications can destroy the H. pylori bacteria that can lead to stomach cancer.

Take the next step to see if you qualify for local clinical trials for heartburn, acid reflux or GERD. But don’t delay — space is limited!