Mark was 53 years old when he signed up for Quantify, after struggling for a year with acid reflux that had developed seemingly out of nowhere.
His primary care doctor had diagnosed him with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) soon after his symptoms started, but he didn’t have anything to offer, other than a prescription for antacid medication, to neutralize the hydrochloric acid in his stomach that, for some reason, was ending up in his esophagus after meals.
A lifelong natural health enthusiast, Mark recognized that the medication would be palliative at best—that it would suppress his acid reflux, but it wouldn’t address the causes—so he decided to only take the medication as needed, while looking elsewhere for a more natural approach.
In his first appointment at Quantify, Mark’s health coach recommended a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) stool analysis, to test for parasites, bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and evaluate intestinal permeability, inflammation, and the health of his microbiome.
Test results
His first time conducting a comprehensive evaluation of his gastrointestinal health, Mark’s qPCR stool analysis was positive for Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that colonizes the stomach that can cause or contribute to GERD, stomach ulcers, indigestion, bloating, nausea, fatigue, and other chronic symptoms.
Rarely tested for, Helicobacter pylori is surprisingly common—around 44% of the global population harbor the infection—but only in the minority does it overgrow and cause symptoms, as it was in Mark’s case.
As a survival mechanism, the bacterium produces an enzyme to neutralize stomach acid (much like the effect of taking antacid medication), which theoretically makes it unlikely to cause a condition in which stomach acid seems to be overproduced.
In actuality, however, by neutralizing stomach acid, the infection creates a dysregulated environment in the stomach, often resulting in lower esophageal sphincter (LES) dysfunction and, ultimately, acid reflux.
Recovery
Shocked to learn that an infection that neutralizes stomach acid was causing his GERD, but also thrilled to finally get answers, Mark started following his health coach’s recommendations closely.
He eliminated processed foods, sugar, grains, and dairy from his diet, increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, started drinking at least 64 ounces of water per day, and took certain supplements, such as ginger, mastic gum, and digestive enzymes.
Within a few months, not only did his acid reflux start to improve, but he also reported feeling less bloated after meals, a likely side effect of addressing the infection.
Six months later, his acid reflux had completely resolved, his doctor retracted his diagnosis, and a follow-up qPCR stool analysis was negative for Helicobacter pylori, further validating the work he had done to address the acid-neutralizing bacterium that had paradoxically caused his GERD.