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Because Digestive Health Matters | International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders November 2025 eNewsletter | | | |
Chances are, you or someone you know has experienced occasional heartburn. While occasional heartburn can be normal, frequent or persistent heartburn is not, and it may be a sign of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). GERD is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders in the United States, affecting 1 in 5 people and leaving millions to deal with symptoms such as reflux, regurgitation, and discomfort.
This year, from November 23rd to 29th, we’re recognizing GERD Awareness Week by exploring some of the most common questions and providing real answers to help raise awareness and support those affected.
For some individuals, GERD symptoms can be mild and managed with over-the-counter medications or lifestyle changes. For others, symptoms can be severe enough to interrupt sleep or even send them to the emergency room. Each year, an estimated 5 million people are hospitalized for chest pain- some of which may be related to unrecognized GI issues. Understanding the difference between occasional heartburn and a chronic condition like GERD is key to improving digestive health and quality of life.
To mark GERD Awareness Week, IFFGD is launching a campaign to share valuable information about GERD symptoms, triggers, and treatment options. Join the conversation by following us on social media and using the hashtags #GERDAwarenessWeek and #LetsTalkGERD to help spread awareness and support those living with GERD.
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Get ready for GERD Awareness Week 2025 by downloading our Media Toolkit. This is your all-in-one resource for spreading awareness and supporting digestive health! Inside, you’ll find key messages, shareable social media graphics, and informational materials to help you educate your community and amplify the conversation about GERD.
Whether you’re a healthcare professional, advocate, or simply passionate about raising awareness, this toolkit makes it easy to join the movement and make an impact this November.
| | Click here to access our toolkit. | | |
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Joy Liu, a gastrointestinal specialist at Northwestern in Chicago, Illinois, to discuss common GI symptoms women may experience after giving birth and how to best manage these symptoms.
Whether you’re a new mom, a partner, a family member, or a healthcare professional supporting someone postpartum, this conversation may offer insight into what’s happening in the body, why these symptoms occur, and how to promote healing during recovery.
Click the button below to watch our latest release.
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Looking to Learn More about SBS?
Check out the newly launched Let’s Talk SBS website. This helpful resource is designed to support individuals and families living with Short Bowel Syndrom (SBS). The site offers practical information about managing symptoms, treatment options, and tips for everyday living. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or supporting someone with SBS, Let’s Talk SBS provides reliable insights and stories to help you feel informed and empowered.
Click the button below to visit the webpage.
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The International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders (IFFGD), in collaboration with Harvard Medical School, is excited to share our newest edition of the Norton Education Series (NES): "Overview of Gastrointestinal Symptoms." This program is tailored to empower patients with the knowledge and tools they need to manage their health effectively.
Delve into 26 expert-led talks addressing upper, middle, and lower GI tract symptoms, as well as identifying alarm symptoms.
Gain insights from Dr. Brad Kuo and Dr. Kyle Staller, the Program Committee Chairs and esteemed gastroenterologists at Massachusetts General Hospital.
This initiative is part of IFFGD's mission to provide patient-centered education, aiming to reduce healthcare utilization and enhance long-term health outcomes for individuals with chronic GI conditions.
Our first video comes out this Saturday, November 8th. Stay tuned for the next releases, coming on November 12th, 15th, and 19th. Click here to register to stay up to date on the releases
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GERD Awareness Week is right around the corner, and this year, we’re switching things up. Got questions about GERD? We’re digging into the most common ones and uncovering real answers in our new series, Burning Questions.
GERD affects millions of people and can cause symptoms like heartburn, regurgitation, and discomfort that impact daily life. Yet, many still struggle to find clear answers about what causes it, how it’s diagnosed, and what treatments actually work. This year, we’re shedding light on those topics and helping you separate fact from fiction. Stay tuned for this series coming later this month, because understanding GERD is the first step toward managing it.
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As the holiday season rolls in, it’s easy for digestive symptoms to flare up. Between long meals, rich foods, travel, and stress, these can all play a part in digestive discomfort. You can help reduce unwanted symptoms by planning ahead: try avoiding large, late-day meals and lying down soon after eating, since acid production peaks and lying flat can trigger reflux.
It may help to keep those trigger foods in check: chocolate, caffeine, onions, fried or fatty foods, alcohol, and even peppermint may aggravate reflux. Alongside food choices, try to reduce stress and practice self-care. Planning ahead, portioning, and honest communication about your needs can go a long way toward enjoying the holidays more comfortably.
Click the button below for more holiday management tips
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Clinical trials and research studies help to improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of diseases and advance the development of new and better treatment options. By participating in a study, you can help further the advancement of research and learn more about your condition.
Here are 3 studies currently recruiting participants:
| | A Study of the Safety of Vonoprazan Exposure in Pregnant Women and Their Offspring | | GCC Agonist Signal in the Small Intestine | | Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of NEXIUM for Maintenance of Healing of Erosive Esophagus(EE) | | Advisory Board Member Dr. Brooks Cash | Brooks D. Cash, MD is the Medical Director of the Functional Bowel Center at the Baylor University Medical Center. Previously he was the Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Dr. Cash received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration (Finance) with Honors from the University of Texas in Austin and earned his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, MD. He completed his internship, residency, and gastroenterology fellowship at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, and served for 24 years in the United States Navy, retiring at the rank of Navy Captain. | |
| Dr. Cash has authored over 250 articles and book chapters on a wide variety of gastrointestinal topics and his clinical interests include disorders of gut-brain interaction, acid-peptic disorders, gut immunology and motility disturbances, and colorectal cancer screening alternatives. He has been recognized as a Texas Monthly Super Doctor since 2019, is a Rome Foundation Fellow and a member of the Rome V Functional Bowel Disorders Committee, a Senior Associate Editor for the American Journal of Gastroenterology, and a member of the Board of Trustees of the American College of Gastroenterology. He has been involved with the IFFGD for many years and is a valued partner in IFFGD education and patient-oriented initiatives to further education and awareness regarding functional GI disorders. | |
IFFGD is a nonprofit organization. We rely on donor support to fund research and to provide reliable information and support to those affected by chronic gastrointestinal disorders.
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