The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Local News

November 13, 2009

Got Gerd

New heartburn center treating 30 a month

KIMBERLY BELLAMY

The term GERD may not ring a bell, but a majority of Americans have experienced it, and Heritage Hospital’s new Heartburn Treatment Center is providing medical attention to people with GERD.

Dr. Mark Petruziello, general surgeon at Heritage, briefed Rotary Club members on the treatment, diagnosis, and definition of GERD, which is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease also known as chronic heartburn.

Petruziello said about 7 percent or 25 million Americans suffer from heartburn daily.

“Some people get it all day, every day. It can be disabling,” Petruziello said.

The condition is caused by the ring of muscle around the bottom of the esophagus not working properly. Food eaten may not pass into the stomach with the digestive juices and return to the esophagus if that muscle, called the lower esophageal sphincter isn’t working.

Symptoms include chest pain, trouble swallowing, hoarseness, dry cough, bad breath, or even food becoming stuck in the throat easily.

In rare cases, if someone allows the condition to persist without treatment, it can be deadly.

“Reflux can change the lining of the esophagus,” which Petruziello said increases the risk of cancer.

Petruziello discussed three modes of providing a diagnosis including EGD with biopsies, wireless pH testing, and high resolution manometry.

There are two routes a patient can go to relieve GERD including medical treatment, which is the most common, or have it fixed surgically. Petruziello said that surgery normally provides people with an instant relief.

“People automatically notice a difference,” he said.

Both the medication and surgical treatment is about 90 percent effective.

There are things that patients can do without seeking medical treatment to help decrease the severity of GERD.

“Once you have GERD, you don’t grow out of it,” Petruziello said.

“There are things you can do to make it better such as lifestyle changes.”

Lifestyle changes include losing weight, stop smoking, avoid alcohol use, and not overeating, just to name a few.

The Heartburn Treatment Center opened at the beginning of March.

Dr. Petruziello said the doors of the center aren’t swinging off its hinges, because people are more concerned with treating conditions like diabetes, cancer and more life threatening diseases.

The average amount of people seen monthly at the center is around 30 people.

“Last month, about 30 people came through, and Dr. Petruziello did some of the surgery that he discussed,” said Wick Baker, president of Heritage.

Baker said that there isn’t a greater need for heartburn treatment in this area than other places, but those needs can’t go unmet.

“We thought it was a service that was needed,” Baker said.

Petruziello said the Center has four goals; provide a diagnosis, educate people about GERD, explain treatment, and provide feedback.



Text Only
Local News
  • IMG_5889.JPG Pizza Bowl

    The biggest football game of the year brings the largest sale of the year for two area pizza restaurants.
    Tarboro branches of Pizza Inn and Dominos Pizza are gearing up for Super Bowl XLVI Sunday by increasing their regular employee lineup by as many as seven.
    Pizza Inn is running a special that they believe will keep them busy throughout the day. Last year they sold over 200 large pizzas on Super Bowl Sunday compared to 50 on an average Sunday.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Edgecombe unemployment up in December

    TARBORO — Unemployment rates increased in 93 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in December. Rates decreased in four counties and remained the same in three.
    Edgecombe, which saw a slight improvement in November, fell back to its October 2011 level (15.7%). Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Edgecombe and Dare are tied at third highest in unemployment. 

    February 3, 2012

  • Three ECPS campuses ahead of First Lady's nutritional guidelines

    When First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new guidelines for the nutritional overhaul of school meals last week, they could have chosen three of Edgecombe County's public schools as their models.

    February 2, 2012

  • Lynn_Cale.jpg ECC Executive Named to United Way Board

    J. Lynn Cale, associate vice president of instruction at Edgecombe
    Community College, has been named to the United Way Tar River Region
    Board of Directors.
        The Tar River Region serves Edgecombe and Nash counties. Cale
    will serve a one-year term, from January to December 2012.
        He and other board members oversee 41 local health and human
    service programs funded through United Way as well as 21 Community
    Partners and various community development partnerships.
    RIGHT: J. Lynn Cale

    February 2, 2012 1 Photo

  • Pattillo Alumni Association on the move

    The Board of Directors (BOD) of W.A. Pattillo High School National Alumni
    Association, Inc. held a meeting on Jan. 21, at Pattillo School under the leadership of its President, Dr. Fred S. Wood, Jr.  All of the officers except one were in attendance, accompanied by 9 of 16 Board Members and 9 of 10 Appointed Standing Committee Chairpersons.

    February 2, 2012

  • BandSEDriverHouse.jpg Local students selected for N.C. Eastern All-District Band

    Three Edgecombe County Public Schools students have been chosen to play in the All-District Band. Lillian House, an alto saxophone player and Kaitlin Driver, a French horn player both eighth graders from South Edgecombe Middle School and West Edgecombe Middle School eighth grade flute player, Taylor Joyner earned the honor this year and will grace the stage at East Carolina University’s Wright Auditorium Feb. 3.

    February 1, 2012 2 Photos

  • Robbery prevention

    Community education on robbery prevention shares equal importance with the search of robbery suspects. Robbery prevention may seem unachievable, but we can not continue to ignore the problem of robbery in our community. As local citizens, we should create ways in which everyone can benefit from the knowledge of robbery prevention.

    February 1, 2012

  • GHW 01-28-1221.JPG George Henry White: tribute to a great American

      Why isn’t George Henry White a household name?  If Vincent Spalding has anything to do with it, that will soon change.
         Long ignored in African American history books and recognitions, George Henry White of North Carolina was elected to Congress in 1896, and re-elected in 1898, becoming the last African American elected to Congress after Reconstruction, and the first to serve in the 20th century.

    January 31, 2012 1 Photo

  • Project SKILL Updates

    The National Science Foundation grant proposal for Project SKILL (Supporting Knowledge with Innovative Life-long Learning) is currently in progress.
    This full-scale developing project, if approved, will prepare Edgecombe County's underrepresented students (grade levels 8-12) for college and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers. An anticipated approval date is scheduled for August of this year.

    January 31, 2012

  • KevinWilson.jpg Local Demand Drives Weekend Courses in Historic Preservation

    Interested in turning an old tobacco barn into a "man cave"? You can learn how this spring at Edgecombe Community College.
    In response to local demand, the college has developed several new courses in the historic preservation trades program, including "Preservation of Farm Structures" on March 17-18 and March 24-25.

    January 27, 2012 1 Photo