903 Defending the Digestive Tract

Tune in to our radio show on your local public radio station, or sign up for the podcast and listen at your leisure. Here’s what it’s about:
Heartburn is a serious problem for millions of people. Not only is it painful, it is a potential harbinger of esophageal cancer. When acid reflux continues for years, it can lead to Barrett’s esophagus, a pre-cancerous condition. Can technology break the link between reflux, Barrett’s esophagus and cancer?
Popular pain relievers such as diclofenac, ibuprofen and naproxen can ease aching joints, but they can also wreak havoc in the gastrointestinal tract. Must you choose between crippling pain and life-threatening ulcers?
Guest: Nicholas Shaheen, MD, is Professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and the UNC Gillings School of Public Health. He directs the Center for Esophageal Diseases and Swallowing. The website is http://www.med.unc.edu/cedas/
. Dr. Shaheen’s review of radiofrequency ablation was published in <em>Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology in 2013. His study was published in 2012.
The podcast of this program will be available the Monday after the broadcast date. The show can be streamed online from this site and podcasts can be downloaded for free for four weeks after the date of broadcast. After that time has passed, digital downloads are available for $2.99. CDs may be purchased at any time after broadcast for $9.99.