How to recognize and manage GERD
Miscellaneous / / November 13, 2021
Frequent heartburn can be a worrying sign.
What is GERD
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a condition in which the body is chronically unable to keep stomach acid in the stomach and fluid risesGERD (Chronic Acid Reflux) / Cleveland Clinic along the esophagus.
The sensations that arise during this are called heartburn. Normally, it rarely manifests itself, but with GERD it is much more often: the diagnosis is suggested if a person feels heartburn more than twice a week for several weeks.
GERD must be treated because repeated exposure of the esophagus to gastric juice can lead to serious complications.
Why is GERD dangerous?
Gastric juice contains acid that irritates the walls of the esophagus, which is not adapted to contact with it. Because of this, the organ becomes inflamed.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) / Mayo Clinic. And chronic inflammation is fraught with trouble:
- Narrowing of the esophagus. Due to permanent damage, scars form on the walls of the organ. They are convex, so the lumen decreases. This can lead to difficulty swallowing.
- Esophageal ulcer. It occurs when acid eats away at the lining of an organ. Wound may hurt, bleed, and interfere with swallowing.
- Precancerous changes in the esophagus (Barrett's syndrome). Due to chronic inflammation, the cells of the tissues of the lower parts of the organ begin to change, which increases the risk cancer esophagus.
In addition, there is evidence that GERD can provokeGERD (Chronic Acid Reflux) / Cleveland Clinic the development of asthma in adults. The exact relationship between these two diseases has not been established, but it is known that more than 75% of asthmatics also suffer from GERD.
Scientists believe that gastric juice irritates not only the esophagus, but also the lining of the throat and respiratory tract. This can serve as a trigger for asthmatic cough.
What are the symptoms of GERD
You can suspect a disease by the following signs.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) / Mayo Clinic:
- frequent heartburn, which usually occurs after eating, but may worsen at night;
- sensation lump in the throat or just below, just under the neck;
- sore chest pain;
- trouble swallowing;
- Regular belching of food or liquid with sour taste.
If heartburn occurs at night, you may have additional symptoms:
- a chronic cough for which you cannot determine the cause;
- laryngitis, or inflammation of the larynx;
- sleep disturbances;
- onset or aggravated asthma.
When to seek medical attention
Much depends on the signs and their frequency.
When to call an ambulance
Symptoms of GERD can sometimes hide behindHeart attack / Mayo Clinic a much more dangerous condition - heart attack. Dial 103 immediately if you have a sore, dull chest pain accompanied by shortness of breath, other breathing problems, or soreness in the jaw, shoulder, or arm.
When to see a therapist or gastroenterologist
You need to consult a doctorGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) / Mayo Clinic, if:
- you have symptoms of GERD several times a week or seriously affect your well-being;
- Heartburn is so bad that you have to take over-the-counter medicines for it more than twice a week.
How is GERD treated
To begin with, the medic will conductGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) / Mayo Clinic examination and ask about the symptoms. This is usually enough to make a diagnosis.
Sometimes more research is needed. For example, if a doctor wants to find out how badly the esophagus is damaged. In this case, the specialist will issue a referral for one or more tests.
- Endoscopy. A thin, flexible tube is passed through the mouth and throat into the esophagus and stomach. There is a camera at its end. It allows you to see inflammation or other complications. You can also use an endoscope to take a sample of cells from the wall of your esophagus to check for Barrett's syndrome.
- Esophageal manometry. A small probe is inserted into it, and then asked to take a few sips of water. The procedure allows you to measure how often the esophagus contracts when swallowing.
- Ambulatory acid (pH) test. A tiny monitor is placed in the esophagus, which is connected to a mini-computer. The latter is worn on a waist belt or in a shoulder bag. The video made helps to determine exactly when gastric juice enters the esophagus and how often it happens.
- X-ray of the upper part of the digestive system. For this, a contrast agent is used.
After the doctor diagnoses and determines the extent of the damage, he will prescribe treatment. It includesGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) / Mayo Clinic in itself three consecutive stages. First, they try the first, if it does not help - the second, and in the most difficult cases - the third.
1. Lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications
To quickly relieve the patient of obsessive heartburn, the physician will select the appropriate over-the-counter medication. It can be:
- Antacid medicines. They neutralize gastric juice so that it is less irritating to the esophagus.
- Drugs that reduce acid production. Over-the-counter medications can reduce the amount by 12 hours. More powerful ones require a recipe.
- Medicines that block acid production. They also help the damaged tissue of the esophagus to heal.
In parallel with the prescription of drugs, the doctor will suggestGERD (Chronic Acid Reflux) / Cleveland Clinic lifestyle adjustments to reduce the risk of heartburn:
- keep your back straight while eating and try not to lie down after eating for 3 hours;
- do not wear tight clothes, including tight belts and corsets - it squeezes the stomach;
- raise the head of the bed if heartburn appears at night;
- eat slowly and chew food thoroughly;
- give up foods that provoke heartburn, primarily fatty and fried foods, as well as chocolate, tomato sauce, mint, garlic, onions, alcohol and caffeine;
- monitor weight - excess pounds put pressure on the stomach;
- quit smoke.
2. Prescription drugs
These are powerful drugs that decrease the production of stomach acid or reduce the frequency of contractions in the esophagus.
3. Minimally invasive surgery
Their goal is to create a valve between the stomach and the lower esophagus that will allow food to pass from top to bottom, but block the movement of food and gastric juice from bottom to top. These operations are done with a tiny incision (laparoscopy). And for some, an incision is not necessary at all: they are performed using an endoscope.
It rarely comes to operations: usually GERD can be corrected through changes in lifestyle and medications.
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Author and editor of articles on health, psychology, sexology. I have been working in medical journalism for over 15 years. I rely on the principles of docmed, love and know how to search and analyze relevant research in world scientific journals. I try to write about the most complex diseases in a simple and accessible way. I believe that understanding the mechanism of the development of the disease means taking the first step towards recovery.
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