| What is GERD?Gastroesophageal reflux
| |
| | nicotine in cigarette smoke weaken or
|
| disease or GERD occurs when the acidic
| |
| | relax the LES. Obesity places added
|
| gastric juices
| |
| | pressure on the upper abdomen,
|
| from the stomach flow up into the
| |
| | and during pregnancy the LES weakens for
|
| esophagus. As these juices are allowed
| |
| | unknown reasons.GERD TreatmentWhen
|
| to flow into and irritate the lining of
| |
| | symptoms of heartburn are not controlled
|
| the esophagus, a burning
| |
| | with modifications in lifestyle,
|
| sensation is felt in the lower chest.
| |
| | and over-the-counter medicines are
|
| If these symptoms of heartburn are not
| |
| | needed two or more times a week, or
|
| controlled with modifications in
| |
| | symptoms remain unresolved on the
|
| lifestyle, and
| |
| | medication you are taking, you
|
| over-the-counter medicines are needed
| |
| | should consult your physician.Treatment
|
| two or more times a week, you should see
| |
| | should be designed to: 1) eliminate
|
| your physician. When GERD is not
| |
| | symptoms; 2) heal esophagitis;
|
| treated, serious
| |
| | and 3) prevent the relapse of
|
| complications can occur, such as severe
| |
| | esophagitis or development of
|
| chest pain that can mimic a heart attack,
| |
| | complications in patients with
|
| esophageal stricture (the narrowing of
| |
| | esophagitis.In many patients, GERD is a
|
| the esophagus),
| |
| | chronic, relapsing disease. The goals of
|
| bleeding, or a pre-cancerous change in
| |
| | long-term
|
| the lining of the esophagus known as
| |
| | maintenance are to control the symptoms
|
| Barrett's Esophagus.What are the causes
| |
| | and prevent complications. Maintenance
|
| of GERD?One possible GERD cause is the
| |
| | therapy will vary in individuals ranging
|
| weakness of the muscle at the base of the
| |
| | from basic lifestylemodifications to
|
|
| |
| | prescription medication as
|
| esophagus that connects and controls the
| |
| | treatment.Lifestyle Modification In order
|
| flow of food in to the stomach, known as
| |
| | to decrease the amount of gastric
|
| the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). As
| |
| | contents that reach the loweresophagus,
|
| food travels down
| |
| | certain simple guidelines should be
|
| the esophagus, the sphincter opens to
| |
| | followed:Raise the Head of the Bed or use
|
| let food flow into the stomach. Normally
| |
| | under-mattress foam wedge to elevate the
|
| it closes as soon as the food enters the
| |
| | headabout 6-10 inches. Pillows are not an
|
| stomach. With
| |
| | effective alternative for elevating the
|
| heartburn, the sphincter does not close
| |
| | head in preventing reflux.
|
| tightly. This allows stomach acid to flow
| |
| | Change Eating and Sleeping Habits. Avoid
|
| back up into the esophagus (often called
| |
| | lying down for two hours after eating. Do
|
| acid reflux),
| |
| | not eat for at least two hours before
|
| causing a burning sensation.Other causes
| |
| | bedtime. Thisdecreases the amount of
|
| include excess acid production and other
| |
| | stomach acid available for reflux.
|
| diseases that interfere
| |
| | Reduce your weight if obesity
|
| with food passing through the
| |
| | contributes to the problem.
|
| esophagus.GERD SymptomsFrequent heartburn
| |
| | Change Your Diet. Avoid foods and
|
| is the most common GERD symptom. However,
| |
| | medications that lower LES tone (fats and
|
| patients may also
| |
| | chocolate) and foods that may irritate
|
| experience some of the following:sour or
| |
| | the damaged lining ofthe esophagus
|
| bitter tastebitter stomach fluid coming
| |
| | (citrus juice, tomato juice, and probably
|
| into the mouth, especially during
| |
| | pepper).
|
| sleephoarsenessrepeatedly feeling a need
| |
| | Avoid Habits That Contribute to GERD.
|
| to clear the throatdifficulty swallowing
| |
| | Both smoking and the use of alcoholic
|
| food or liquidwheezing or coughing at
| |
| | beverages lower LES pressure, which
|
| nightworsening of symptoms after eating,
| |
| | contributes to acidreflux.
|
| or when bending over or lying
| |
| | Avoid foods and beverages that
|
| downDiagnosing GERDDiagnostic tests for
| |
| | contribute to heartburn: chocolate,
|
| GERD may include:Upper GI Series-a series
| |
| | coffee, peppermint, greasy or spicy
|
| of x-rays of the upper digestive system
| |
| | foods, tomato products andalcoholic
|
| taken
| |
| | beverages.
|
| after drinking a barium solution
| |
| | Stop smoking. Tobacco inhibits saliva,
|
| 24-hour pH Monitoring-a probe placed in
| |
| | which is the body's major buffer. Tobacco
|
| the esophagus to keep track of the level
| |
| | may also stimulate stomach acid
|
| of acidity in the lower esophagus. This
| |
| | production and relax themuscle between
|
| is done
| |
| | the esophagus and the stomach, permitting
|
| over a 24-hour period.
| |
| | acid reflux to occur.The goal of each
|
| Manometry-measures muscle pressures of
| |
| | treatment is to decrease the amount of
|
| the lower esophagus (LES)
| |
| | acidic stomach fluidleaking back into the
|
| Endoscopy-looking at the esophagus and
| |
| | esophagus or make that fluid less
|
| stomach through a thin, lighted flexible
| |
| | irritating to the lining of the
|
| tube that is passed down the throat
| |
| | esophagus.GERD DietYour doctor may
|
| Biopsy-removing a small sample of
| |
| | recommend avoiding:caffeine
|
| esophageal tissue to measure the amount
| |
| | chocolate and peppermint
|
| of acid or pressure in the esophagusGERD
| |
| | spicy and/or tomato-based foods like
|
| ComplicationsHeartburn can feel like the
| |
| | pizza, wings, sausages
|
| pain associated with a heart attack.
| |
| | fruits from the citrus family like
|
| Never assume
| |
| | oranges and tomatoes
|
| that chest pain is heartburn or
| |
| | fried and fatty foods
|
| indigestion. Seek medical care if you're
| |
| | peppermint and spearmint
|
| not sure.Complications occur when GERD is
| |
| | whole milk
|
| severe or long-standing. Constant
| |
| | cold cuts, bacon, fatty meat, chicken
|
| irritation of
| |
| | skin
|
| the esophagus by stomach acid can lead
| |
| | cream-based soupsMedical Treatment of
|
| to inflammation, ulcers, and bleeding.
| |
| | GERDGERD has a physical cause, and
|
| Anemia or low blood count may develop.
| |
| | frequently is not curtailed by these
|
| Over time, scarring and
| |
| | lifestyle factors alone. If you are using
|
| narrowing of the esophagus can also
| |
| |
|
| develop, making it difficult to swallow
| |
| | over-the-counter medications two or more
|
| and pass food through the esophagus. This
| |
| | times a week, or are still having
|
| narrowing is called a
| |
| | symptoms on the prescription or other
|
| stricture.Some patients develop a
| |
| | medicines you are taking,
|
| condition called Barrett's Esophagus,
| |
| | you need to see your doctor. If results
|
| which is a serious
| |
| | are not forthcoming, medications may be
|
| change in the cells lining the
| |
| | used to neutralize acid, increase LES
|
| esophagus. Barrett's Esophagus may be a
| |
| | tone, or improve
|
| precursor of esophageal cancer.GERD
| |
| | gastric emptying. Promotility Agents
|
| PreventionCertain diet and lifestyle
| |
| | increase lower esophageal sphincter
|
| choices can contribute to the condition.
| |
| | pressure, which helps prevent acid
|
| For example,
| |
| | reflux, and improves the movement
|
| certain foods increase acid production,
| |
| | of food from the stomach. H2 blockers
|
| and fatty foods increase the time food
| |
| | and Proton Pump lnhibitors decrease the
|
| remains in the stomach. Chocolate,
| |
| | flow of stomach acid.Beth Guida is an
|
| peppermint, coffee,
| |
| | author for e-Healthcare Solutions, Inc.
|
| alcoholic beverages, and especially
| |
| | in Ewing, NJ.
|
