GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) now affects nearly 65 million Americans. Also called acid reflux or heartburn, GERD occurs when stomach contents back up into the esophagus. Untreated, it can lead to Barrett’s esophagus, a dangerous precancerous condition. Most people with GERD can be effectively treated using acid-blocking medication, but nearly a third continue to have symptoms.

The Structural Heart and Valve Center at NYP/Columbia has long been a leader in catheter-based treatment—the least invasive therapy—to repair the mitral valve. This valve regulates blood flow between the upper and the lower chambers on the left side of the heart. When it is damaged or defective, blood flows back up into the upper chamber, producing Mitral Regurgitation (MR).

Babies born with heart defects are now more likely to be successfully treated and grow into healthy adults. Yet this has created a new set of challenges: how to care for the first-generation who had childhood surgeries for congenital heart disease.

Summer is not over yet—soak up the last few weeks with a trip to the beach and these fantastic beach friendly snacks! Snacking at the beach can easily be energizing, refreshing and of course very nourishing.

The NY Thyroid-Parathyroid Center will be posting a number of important blogs, patient stories, and educational pieces to help educate everyone about the presentation, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of thyroid cancer as well as to help raise awareness of this disease.

Today mitral valve repair has emerged as an alternative to valve replacement, and is linked to improved long-term survival in many patients.

(TAVR)—a minimally invasive method of replacing damaged aortic valves.

The David Operation allows surgeons to repair aortic root aneurysms while leaving the patient’s aortic valve intact.