Campaign Against Reflux Disease (CARD) Tackle Reflux disease early and avoid complications later! Charity Reg.No. 1136491

About

CARD is a charity committed to educating the general public regarding the problems of Reflux disease.

CARD is a registered UK charity (Reg.No. 1136491) which has been started by a gastroenterologist (Dr. Pulak Sahay) whose sub speciality interest is Gastro Oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD) and its various complications including Asthma, Laryngitis, Barrett’s Oesophagus and Oesophageal Adenocarcinoma.
Patients consider heartburn as part of normal life and suffer in silence, not realising that it can over a period of time lead to serious consequences. The charity wants to educate the general public and make them aware of this extremely common disease that effects about 20% of the UK’s adult population. This equates to 9.6 million people who suffer from heartburn. 5 new cases of GORD per 1000 population occurs each year which, in absolute terms, accounts for 240,000 new cases of reflux disease per year in the UK. Complications are oesophageal ulcers & narrowing, Barrett’s Oesophagus as well as Oesophageal adenocarcinoma which kills about 7000 patients per year in the UK and is the fastest rising cancer in the western world.

Dr. Sahay has held exhibitions of his paintings & poetry and sold these to raise awareness and monies for charity. He has brought together a group of patients and organises regular meetings and lectures given to GPs, to spread the word about GORD and its management by lay persons so that they can ask for help at the right time.
Lay people will be encouraged to spread the message of GORD.

Lord Turnberg (past President of Royal College of Physicians of London) & Prof. Lord Parekh FBA have now become Patrons of CARD. Other Patrons are Sir Richard Thompson (past President of Royal College of Physicians of London and previously physician to Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II) and Nick Ross (Radio and TV presenter)
CARD is involved in organising charitable events to promote public awareness about GORD.

It is important to be wary of the alert features (also called Alarm or Red flag symptoms) such as food sticking in the chest, vomiting, anaemia and weight loss. All the alert features should be taken seriously and needs a doctor’s attention urgently.

A charity dinner was organised at the Royal Armouries, Leeds on the 17th of March 2012.
A 2012 calender made from photographs taken by Dr. Sahay was sold for CARD charity.
A book called “Poetic paintings” containing paintings & poems of Dr. Sahay is also being sold to raise monies for charity.

Launched on: 23rd April 2010
The launch took place at the Hull Truck Theatre on the last day of the International Conference of Reflux disease.