Acid reflux.Oops! When Ashlee Simpson appeared on Saturday Night Live This article is about the American television series. For the show related to Big Brother (UK), see Saturday Night Live (UK). Saturday Night Live (SNL last October, a technical glitch exposed a secret: The singer was using prerecorded pre·re·cord tr.v. pre·re·cord·ed, pre·re·cord·ing, pre·re·cords To record (a television program, for example) at an earlier time for later presentation or use. Adj. 1. vocal tracks--she was just singing along. Simpson's defense: A hoarse voice caused by acid reflux, or gastroesophageal gastroesophageal /gas·tro·esoph·a·ge·al/ (-e-sof?ah-je´al) 1. pertaining to the stomach and esophagus. 2. proceeding from the stomach to the esophagus. (GAS-troh-ih-sah-fuh-JEE-uhl) reflux disease (GERD GERD gastroesophageal reflux disease. GERD abbr. gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD ). Can her story be believed? With GERD, the valve that links the stomach to the esophagus (tube that connects the mouth to the stomach) frequently relaxes. That allows the stomach's contents, including acids used for digestion, to reflux, or travel up the esophagus. If reflux happens often, the stomach acids can damage the esophagus. And--as Simpson claimed--reflux may also cause a hoarse voice. As the liquids move through the esophagus, small amounts can leak into the adjacent larynx (voice box). That can harm the vocal cords inside, says Dr. Hashem El-Serag, a doctor of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines at Baylor College of Medicine Baylor College of Medicine is a private medical school located in Houston, Texas, USA on the grounds of the Texas Medical Center. It has been consistently rated the top medical school in Texas and among the best in the United States. and spokesperson for the American Gastroenterological Association The American Gastroenterological Association is a medical association of gastroenterologists. About 14,000 scientists and physicians are members of the organization, which was founded in 1897 and is the oldest medical association in the United States. . GERD most often afflicts older adults. But some teens suffer too. "About 3 to 5 percent of adolescents suffer from symptoms [of reflux disease] more than once a week," says El-Serag. Bad news for Simpson's singing career: GERD is a chronic disease. Doctors commonly treat patients with medications that block stomach-acid production. They also recommend avoiding fat-rich foods, which increase relaxation of the stomach valve, making GERD worse. Some advice for Simpson: Steer clear of French fries. Did You Know? * Ashlee Simpson is not the only famous person to have experienced GERD-related voice problems. Some sufferers: Former President Bill Clinton and pop singer Tom Jones, according to gastroenterologist Hashem El-Serag. * In addition to fat-rich foods, mints, chocolate, strawberries, and spicy foods can worsen GERD. That's because these foods increase relaxation of the stomach valve. Resources * To learn more about gastroesophageal reflux disease gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Disorder characterized by frequent passage of gastric contents from the stomach back into the esophagus. Symptoms of GERD may include heartburn, coughing, frequent clearing of the throat, and difficulty in swallowing. in teens, check out this Web site: http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/digestive/gerd.html * This kid-friendly Web site is filled with information and interactive activities related to digestion and acid reflux: www.kidsacidreflux.org/ |
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