The main clinical symptoms of GERD The common symptom of GERD is recurrent heartburn and acid reflux, and in severe cases, regurgitation of food. Another symptom is a vague pain behind the sternum and in the heart fossa, sometimes radiating to the back, sometimes to the left shoulder or even to the base of the neck. The onset is very similar to angina pectoris and is called esophageal chest pain. Patients with prolonged GERD may also feel pain, tightness or a foreign body sensation in the throat. A cough or asthma that does not go away for a long time may also occur. Is it necessary to treat GERD? GERD must be taken seriously, especially if the esophageal mucosa has been damaged. If the mucosa of the esophagus is obviously ulcerated or eroded, it will lead to the formation of esophageal scar contracture over time and cause esophageal stricture, and if it continues to develop, some special pathological changes of the esophageal mucosa will occur, which may eventually lead to esophageal cancer. GERD can also cause systemic diseases, such as chronic asthma, aspiration pneumonia, lung abscess, and eventually fibrosis of the lungs. In the circulation, reflexive spasm of the coronary arteries can aggravate poor blood supply to the heart. It can also cause chronic pharyngitis, sinusitis and even otitis media. It can also cause periodontal disease, pharyngitis, sinusitis, etc. How to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux disease The diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease is based on typical symptoms, followed by the examination of the function of the esophagus, such as the 24-hour pH measurement of the esophagus and the pressure measurement of the lower esophageal sphincter, which is a 24-hour test of the acidity of the esophagus and the pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter. The situation can also be indirectly judged by the degree of reflux. There are obvious symptoms of reflux, such as acid reflux, regurgitation, regurgitation, belching, etc., mostly obvious or aggravated after meals, and easily appear when lying down or when the torso is bent forward. Acid reflux, often accompanied by heartburn, is the most common symptom of GERD. 2. Gastroscopy may show reflux esophagitis. Endoscopy is the most accurate way to diagnose reflux esophagitis. It is generally divided into 5 grades, and the diagnostic grading should be accurately determined under the guidance of a doctor. 3. Evidence of excessive acid reflux in the esophagus: 24-hour PH measurement of the esophagus suggests excessive acid reflux. Liver function, hepatobiliary, pancreatic and splenic ultrasound, electrocardiogram, blood, urine and stool routine are required to determine the diagnosis to exclude diseases other than gastroesophageal reflux. What are the treatments for GERD? There are many ways to treat GERD, but the overall treatment can be divided into two main categories: first, conservative medical treatment, which mainly includes correction of bad habits and medication control. The second is surgical or endoscopic surgery. The so-called bad habits include smoking, drinking alcohol, drinking strong tea, coffee, carbonated drinks or eating spicy and fried barbecue food, sleeping too late at night, resting in bed immediately after meals, eating too much, etc. Obesity, constipation and conditions that cause increased intra-abdominal pressure can also aggravate reflux. Correcting bad habits means changing the above lifestyle, living a regular life, eating lightly, exercising properly, reducing weight, and trying not to eat before bedtime, etc. On the basis of lifestyle changes, medication can be administered for symptoms such as acid reflux heartburn chest pain and esophageal mucosal damage. Surgical treatment is also available for those with persistent reflux and esophageal ulcer erosion with stricture or cancer tendency. Gastroesophageal reflux disease in the eyes of Chinese medicine Chinese medicine belongs to the categories of “acid swallowing”, “acid vomiting”, “chest paralysis” and “choking”. “Chinese medicine has long recognized gastroesophageal reflux as a disease caused by poor diet, emotional disorders and weakness of the spleen and stomach. Irregular diet can directly injure the esophagus and stomach, and can help heat and fire, dryness and injury to the body, the esophagus loses its moistening, if addicted to fatty, sweet and thick flavors can help dampness and heat, damp-heat accumulation, phlegm and gas obstruction, the esophagus is unfavorable, gastric Qi does not descend, and even upward rebellion and this disease occurs. Common clinical evidence are: 1, liver and stomach disharmony type: evidence of burning heat or burning pain in the chest and epigastrium, chest tightness, acid reflux, swallowing disorder, thin coating, pulse string. 2, phlegm and dampness stagnation type: evidence of chest tightness, generalized evil, heavy limbs, palpitations and dizziness, greasy moss, smooth pulse, etc. 3. Stomach deficiency and Qi rebellion type: evidence of chest tightness, chest pain, dysphagia, belching and vomiting, sluggishness and little food, pale face, weakness, pale tongue and weak pulse. 4. In the Eastern Han Dynasty, there is a record of “plum kernel qi” in the classic “Treatise on Typhoid and Miscellaneous Diseases”, and it is proposed to treat it with Hanxia Houpu Tang, which is reliable and has been used until now. Chinese medicine believes that this disease is mostly related to liver qi stagnation, liver and stomach disharmony, while Chinese medicine emphasizes the identification and treatment, the treatment not only requires the patient to relieve emotions and relax, but also uses drugs to relax the liver and stomach, and can also be combined with acupuncture treatment. In addition to medication, mental stimulation should be avoided and attention should be paid to the diet on a regular basis. Avoid eating too fast, do not eat too much so as not to raise the pressure in the stomach, do not eat too late, preferably within 2 to 3 hours before bedtime, abandon the habit of eating late at night. Try to eat less fatty acidic food, spicy stimulating food and too cold, too hot diet, do not drink drinks containing caffeine, such as coffee, tea, etc. Do not lie down or bend over immediately after meals, and do not start strenuous exercise immediately. In addition, by raising the head of the bed 15 to 20 cm, the upper body will be raised 10 to 15 degrees during sleep, which can reduce esophageal reflux to alleviate heartburn symptoms, but you cannot rely on a high pillow to raise the head, because a high pillow cannot come to raise the entire upper body. If there is often severe heartburn or heartburn persists, going to the hospital for detailed examination and timely treatment is the best policy and the sooner the better, to see if it is this gastroesophageal reflux, or what other invisible lesions exist.