Blog — Dr. Huy Dao - Laparoscopic Surgeon

Did you know about 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month? According to The American College of Gastroenterology, 15 million Americans experience heartburn DAILY! If you're experiencing heartburn a couple of times a week, you may also have a condition, called GERD which stands for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. GERD is caused by acid reflux from the stomach up into the esophagus. GERD happens often due to malfunction or relaxation of the LES (Lower Esophageal Sphincter) which acts like a valve. The LES opens to allow food to travel down into the stomach and then closes. This prevents stomach contents and acid from flowing back up the esophagus. GERD may cause chronic cough, sore throat, or chronic hoarseness. If untreated, GERD could lead to other medical complications and diseases including cancer. The common treatment option for people who repeatedly experience acid reflux in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is a class of drugs known as proton-pump inhibitors. More than 60 million prescriptions for GERD were filled in 2004. When drugs aren't enough, GERD surgery may be needed. They are different types of surgery for GERD, and you should consult your doctor about your treatment options.

If you live in Turlock California and suspect you may have GERD, you should contact the office of Dr. Huy Dao. Dr. Dao is a laparoscopic surgeon specializing in treating GERD in Turlock.

For more information about GERD treatment options, please call the office of Dr. Dao today! His office phone number is 209-656-0183.

Did you know more than one million hernia repairs are performed each year in the U.S.? Approximately 800,000 of them are to repair inguinal hernias. Inguinal means the groin area. A hernia occurs when the inside layers of the abdominal muscle have weakened, and a part of the intestine or abdominal tissue pushes through the weakened area resulting in a bulge. The hernia can cause severe pain and potentially serious medical complications that could require emergency surgery.

If you lift heavy objects, are overweight, have persistent coughing or difficulty with bowel movements or urination, you might be at risk for an inguinal hernia. These risk factors can cause the abdominal wall to weaken, thus increase the risk of getting an inguinal hernia.

Hernias do not improve without surgery. They tend to get larger and more problematic over time.

There're two main types of surgery for hernias: Laparoscopic surgery and Open hernia repair. The surgeon may choose to perform Laparoscopic surgery to pull back the herniated tissue in place in the abdomen. This method leaves smaller scars, less pain than Open hernia repair, and recovery time is faster. Open hernia repair is a more traditional method where the surgeon makes an incision in the groin, moves the hernia back into the abdomen, and reinforces the muscle wall with stitches.

If you live in Turlock California and think you may have an inguinal hernia, you should contact the office of Dr. Huy Dao. Dr. Dao is a laparoscopic surgeon specializing in treating inguinal hernias in Turlock. He has treated over 1500 hernia patients.

For more information about Hernia treatment options, please call the office of Dr. Dao today! His office phone number is 209-656-0183.