Can gastroesophageal reflux disease be prevented?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a common condition in the digestive system that is prone to recurrence and has a chronic course. Unlike peptic ulcers, after the esophageal mucosal lesions heal with treatment, the symptoms can recur rapidly once the medication is stopped. From the pathogenesis, it is related to the dysfunction of the lower esophageal dilator muscle, and a large amount of acidic gastric reflux into the esophagus causes esophageal damage at the onset, so this disease is a dysmotic disease and an acid-related disease.
Because of the complexity of the causative factors, it is difficult to prevent the occurrence of this disease. Current research suggests that the treatment of GERD needs to be strategic, and lifestyle modification is the basis of the whole treatment process and is an important step in preventing GERD, and we can start with the predisposing factors of the disease and do a good job of self-preventive care.
For example, maintain a good mental condition, be open-minded and reduce all kinds of bad mental stimulation. Develop good living and eating habits, and eat less fatty, sweet, thick and spicy food. Obese people should increase their activities, control their diet, reduce their weight and abdominal pressure, etc.
How should patients with GERD perform self-care?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a recurrent chronic disease with a long course, some even for life, so it is very important to prevent the recurrence of gastroesophageal reflux disease and strengthen self-care for patients who have suffered from this disease. The following areas are recommended to prevent the recurrence of this disease Lifestyle changes are the best way to prevent acid reflux and heartburn. Gastroesophageal reflux is mostly related to diet. Excessive intake of greasy, high-fat, coarse fiber and other indigestible foods is an important trigger for reflux.
Try to eat less high-fat meal, chocolate, coffee, candy, sweet potatoes, potatoes, taro; strictly quit smoking and stop drinking alcohol; eat less and more meals, should not lie down immediately after the meal, 20-30 minutes of activity before going to sleep, but should pay attention to post-meal activities to small amount of exercise is appropriate (such as walking on flat ground), to avoid activities to increase abdominal pressure and aggravate reflux; 2-3 hours before bedtime is best not to eat; usually chew more chewing gum, which Can increase the quality and quantity of saliva secretion, can improve the clearance ability of the esophagus, to protect the esophageal mucosa to prevent inflammation;
Drinking more warm water can increase the clearing capacity of the esophagus and dilute stomach acid, which helps to relieve symptoms and protect the esophageal mucosa; if you are prone to acid reflux at night, it is best to raise the head of the bed by 10-20 cm during sleep, which will help. In addition, we believe that psychological factors are also very important. Psychological factors also have a great impact on the digestive system, if anxiety and depression can cause adverse reactions in the digestive system, so it is very important to pay attention to relieving stress at times of tension.
What are the usual dietary requirements to prevent GERD?
Improper diet is one of the most important factors in the development of GERD. Therefore, attention to the reasonable deployment of dietary components is an important measure to prevent the onset of GERD.
1, it is advisable to adopt a low-fat diet, sugar should be moderate, this is one of the key measures to prevent reflux esophagitis diet. The reason is that fat can stimulate the secretion of cholecystokinin causing the lower esophageal sphincter tension to decrease, prompting the occurrence of gastroesophageal reflux, while reversing the pressure difference between the stomach and duodenum, causing the duodenal contents to flow back into the stomach, because eating too much fat can slow down the emptying of the stomach, increasing upper abdominal discomfort, making the stomach swell.
The daily diet is limited to about 60 grams of fat, of which the proportion of vegetable fats should be greater than animal fats. Usually should pay attention to the diet less fat, cream and cooking oil, eat less and do not eat fried food, cooking methods should be boiled, stewed, blanching, braised, steamed.
2, supplement protein-rich food, food protein can stimulate the secretion of gastrin, gastrin can make the lower esophageal sphincter tension increased, inhibit gastroesophageal reflux, so in the diet can be appropriate to increase the protein content, such as lean meat, milk, soy products, egg whites, fish, shrimp, etc., for the prevention of gastroesophageal reflux disease has a positive effect.
3, eat more foods rich in fiber and vitamins, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, etc.
What are the contraindications to prevent the occurrence of GERD diet?
The dietary regimen for GERD patients is very beneficial to improve the patient’s symptoms and prevent the recurrence of the disease. First of all, we should correct bad eating habits, eat in moderation, and eat easily digestible and soft foods. Eat more vegetarian food, because grains and vegetables are not obvious hot and cold, and easy to digest and absorb, vegetarian-based is the consistent advocate of health care in China. In addition, the diet should be in line with the four seasons, with the appropriate place, the seasons have four seasons, the region has four different, food has a cold, hot, warm, cool nature.
Therefore, the choice of food should be in line with the four seasons of the subject, combined with the regional differences. In winter, it is appropriate to eat more warm food such as mutton, chicken; in summer, it is appropriate to use light and cool products, such as cucumber; in the summer season when the hot and humid steam should be used watermelon and other products to clear the summer heat and dampness; in autumn, it is appropriate to use the products of dryness; such as apples, bananas, and less spicy things, so as not to burn the stomach Yin.
In order to reduce the recurrence of the disease, usually do not overeat, should use less stimulating food, less or no food that can cause the lower esophageal sphincter tension, such as strong tea, alcohol, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, and fresh lemon juice, fresh orange juice, tomato juice, citrus juice, orange, pineapple, grapefruit, tomatoes, whole milk and other stimulating spices, such as curry, pepper, mint, chili, etc.
What details of life should I pay attention to in order to prevent GERD?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a chronic onset, prone to recurrent disease, so patients should cooperate with medical personnel for active treatment, in remission should still do a good job of self-care prevention, especially in life should pay attention to the following points: 1.
1, diet should be regular: develop good dietary hygiene habits, regular three meals a day, avoid overfull. The distribution of the three meals should also be reasonable, breakfast more refined, lunch more, dinner should be less into. Low-fat diet, chew slowly, can reduce the frequency of reflux symptoms after eating.
2, life should be regular: three meals in the meal, after the meal to maintain a sitting and standing position, avoid lying down after the meal, bending. Do not eat too much dinner, do not eat within 2-3 hours before going to bed, such as eating before going to bed, often drink strong tea, easy to cause food in the stomach during sleep to stimulate the secretion of gastric acid, aggravating the symptoms of reflux. Raise the head of the bed, relax the trouser belt can help reduce reflux. Combine work and rest.
3, science, regular treatment: GERD is a chronic disease, prone to recurrence, so usually must adhere to long-term medication under the guidance of a doctor, do not symptoms slightly improved, then suddenly stop medication. Do not change drugs at will, take a certain drug just a few days, see the symptoms have not improved and change another drug.
4, keep a relaxed mood: patients should avoid bad mental stimulation, keep a happy mood.
Does GERD have anything to do with wearing?
The occurrence of GERD symptoms is closely related to the usual improper dressing. No matter in the onset or remission period, doctors will advise patients to pay attention to reasonable clothing. It is recommended that patients should dress loosely and comfortably, and that clothing should not be too tightly fitted, and that belts and belts should not be buckled too tightly. The usual activities should also minimize actions that increase intra-abdominal pressure, such as excessive bending, weight-bearing, and breath-holding. This will minimize the chances of reflux.
Can smoking and drinking alcohol trigger GERD?
Smoking is one of the causes of GERD. Because tobacco contains nicotine, it can lower the pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter, leaving it in a relaxed state and inducing and aggravating the symptoms of reflux. Studies have shown that smoking 2 cigarettes in more than 20 minutes can reduce the pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter by 50%, and this decrease occurs 2-3 minutes after the start of smoking, and the pressure remains at a low level after smoking. Smoking can also reduce esophageal mucosal blood flow, inhibit the synthesis of prostaglandins, reduce the body’s resistance, making it difficult to recover from inflammation of the gastroesophageal mucosa, resulting in prolonged disease.
The main component of alcohol is ethanol, which not only stimulates gastric acid secretion, but also relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter and decreases muscle tone, especially strong alcohol can make the frequency of the peristaltic contraction wave of the esophagus decrease, aggravating the symptoms of GERD. Therefore, we recommend that you quit smoking and drinking for your health.
Is there a relationship between the onset of GERD symptoms and body position?
Many GERD patients have the experience that their symptoms are not obvious when they work, study or live during the day, but they tend to have heartburn at night when they sleep, especially some elderly people who often take a nap after lunch and lie down just after eating lunch, which can easily make stomach acid and stomach contents reflux into the esophageal lumen, and symptoms can appear after waking up from the nap.
The reason for this is mainly due to the occurrence of symptoms related to the sleeping position. Gastroesophageal reflux often recurs when lying down. Reflux is horizontal movement when lying down, which is much easier than bottom-up vertical movement in a sitting or upright position, and when in a sleeping state, the two gate-sphincter muscles of the upper and lower stomach are in a relaxed state and the effect of inhibiting gastroesophageal reflux is weakened. Therefore, reflux symptoms are more severe when sleeping flat on your back. Therefore, doctors often recommend that people who need to take a nap after lunch should rest in a semi-recumbent position on a recliner, and do not eat 2-3 hours before going to bed at night, precisely to reduce the chances of food reflux.
What is the correct sleeping position that should be maintained when sleeping to prevent GERD?
We already know that there is a relationship between body position and the occurrence of reflux. Therefore, maintaining the correct position at rest is the key to preventing reflux. Patients who like to lie down may wish to raise the upper half of the bed 15-20 cm (i.e., the bed board from the hip to the neck or raise the head side of the bed leg, maintaining 15 ° is good), which is a good and effective way to reduce lying reflux and avoid the influx of stomach acid into the throat or mouth, and if necessary, you can also add a morpholine before bed to promote gastric power.
It is important to note that the pillow is not padded, just raise the pillow is not effective, because it is easy to lead to the folding pressure of the esophagus, which is more unfavorable. Some people like to sleep with the two upper arms up or pillow under the head, which can cause the diaphragm to raise, the pressure in the stomach increased, so that the gastric juice reflux and up, more likely to cause the symptoms to increase at night when resting flat.
What drugs usually have a negative effect on GERD?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease should be treated with medications under the proper guidance of a doctor, and it should be noted that the simultaneous use of certain drugs may cause abnormal lower esophageal sphincter tone and aggravate reflux symptoms, so we should know the names of these drugs that are not easily used at the same time, such as certain anticholinergic drugs and adrenaline-like drugs, alpha-adrenergic antagonists, dopamine agonists, calcium antagonists, valium, morphine, etc. drugs.
Is there a relationship between GERD and obesity?
Obese patients should strengthen weight control because excessive obesity increases abdominal pressure and abnormal function of the lower esophageal sphincter, which tends to promote gastric reflux, especially when lying down, making the disease and symptoms worse. As for weight loss methods, diet (especially restricting high-fat, high-sugar diet), physical exercise and abdominal massage should be the main focus, and the diet should pay attention to the reasonable use of fats and oils and maintain the ideal weight.
Do not abuse laxatives for weight loss, as this can aggravate the condition. A research group led by Dr. Corazziari of the University of La Sapienzai in Rome recently found a link between GERD and obesity in women, and Dr. Corazziari believes that estrogen may be one of the causes of the prevalence of GERD in obese women.
Is there a relationship between GERD and a person’s mental and emotional state?
GERD is a classic psychosomatic disease in which psychosomatic factors have a strong influence on the onset of symptoms. Among the many triggering factors, adverse emotions are at the top of the list of triggering factors. Mental tension, emotional excitement, or excessive anxiety can produce adverse stimulation of the cerebral cortex, resulting in the weakening or loss of the regulation of the hypothalamic center, leading to disorders of the vegetative nerves and relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, resulting in acid reflux, causing heartburn, chest pain, and other symptoms.
Emotional and mental disorders are the causative factors of many diseases, and the ancients were the most knowledgeable about them, as evidenced by the ancient saying “all diseases are mainly due to depression”, etc. Worry and anger, depression and anger hurt the liver, liver qi is not relaxed, transverse rebellion offends the stomach, the stomach loses its harmony and descent, and the disease develops. Therefore, we should keep our spirits happy and relaxed, and avoid some stimuli that can cause mood swings, so that the liver can play its normal drainage function.
In Zhuangzi Keng Yi, it is said that “if you are easy and calm, you can’t get into the trouble, and the evil can’t attack you”. You can raise birds, plant flowers, as well as qin, chess, calligraphy and painting, etc. to regulate the mood, to exclude worry and anger, to achieve the purpose of pleasant self-gratification. In addition, but also gradually adapt to participate in sports activities, not only can circulate blood, enhance physical fitness, but also can cultivate sentiment, so that people happy and relaxed, qi flow. The ancient saying goes: “The human body wants to work, but not to make the extreme owe. Shake then want to eliminate, blood circulation, disease shall not be born.
But exercise should not be excessive, should be measured, persistent, in order to benefit. The majority of health care workers should also pay attention to this aspect of patient care, with a high degree of responsibility and love to help patients, put down the burden, eliminate worries, so that they slowly reach the matter is not anxious, not angry, with a stable state of mind to face things, reduce all kinds of adverse mental stimulation, maintain a good mental state, open-minded, so as to better cooperate with drug therapy, to achieve the purpose of curing the disease, shorten the course of treatment, so conditioning on Such conditioning has a very important role in preventing the recurrence of GERD.