Long-term smoking and alcohol abuse can weaken the defense function of the lower esophageal sphincter, which can easily cause gastroesophageal reflux or worsen reflux symptoms. Heartburn, acid reflux, regurgitation and retrosternal pain are typical symptoms of the disease. If this disease is not treated in time, it is likely to cause complications such as esophageal stricture, esophagitis (mucosal erosion) and even esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Once you have GERD, you should stop smoking and drinking, and avoid eating foods that are too cold, too hot, or irritating. Do not drink strong tea, drink less coffee, and eat less high-sugar and high-fat foods such as chocolate. To develop good eating habits, eat less and more often. Do not eat within 3 hours before bedtime and raise the head of the bed 10-20 cm when sleeping.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a very common digestive tract disorder that seriously affects people’s work and study.
Gastroesophageal reflux is a chronic syndrome caused by mucosal damage and abnormal reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. It is a very common digestive tract disorder. It has a high prevalence in the population. Even healthy people sometimes experience heartburn and acid reflux after an improper diet.
Surveys show that about 10-30% of people have reflux symptoms that occur almost every day, while 40% of people experience them at least once a month. So for esophageal reflux disease and its symptoms are very common and should be taken seriously. As the quality of modern life has improved, the diet has changed and the number of obese people has increased, which can also lead to an increase in the incidence of GERD.
What are the symptoms of GERD?
Patients may feel acid reflux, heartburn, chest pain, hiccups, food reflux, sore throat, throat congestion, and cough. If the esophageal mucosa is damaged, causing ulcers or bleeding, it can cause stricture and lead to difficulty in swallowing.
Stomach contents irritate the esophageal mucosa for a long time, causing inflammation for a long time. It makes the mucosa hyperplasia, especially atypical hyperplasia. It will lead to the appearance of tumor. For example: adenocarcinoma of lower esophagus, cardia cancer. The high incidence of pancreatic cancer in our country is thought to be related to the long-term presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease and reflux esophagitis are one concept in macroscopic terms. But the degree is not the same. GERD is a phenomenon that causes symptoms such as acid reflux and heartburn, but there is no damage to the mucosa. This is symptomatic reflux. Some people have not only symptoms, but also damage to the mucosa, which is called reflux esophagitis. Either symptomatic, or reflux esophagitis. Both are called esophageal reflux disease.
Acid reflux often occurs on an empty stomach, while heartburn often occurs after a full meal. Acid reflux and heartburn are common, but when gastroesophageal reflux is present and the reflux enters the respiratory tract through the esophagus, it can lead to diseases such as sore throat, cough, aspiration pneumonia, asthma, and even angina-like chest pain in severe cases. If the true cause cannot be identified, the development of long-term inflammation can result in local or widespread ulceration.
Like some patients who experience discomfort in the pharynx and seem to have something blocking their throat and cannot cough it up, it is caused by gastroesophageal reflux. Many people, however, treat the throat as an ENT disease, which of course does not work well. So in case of unexplained sore throat, asthma, or chest pain, you may also want to consider GERD before delaying treatment.
The causes of GERD are complex.
In normal people, the contents of the stomach do not enter the esophagus, and the presence of reflux is a problem with its barrier function. The barrier is located at the connection between the esophagus and the stomach and is rather like a door. If it functions normally, the contents of the stomach will not enter the esophagus, and if this door is not closed tightly, it will cause the contents of the stomach to enter the esophagus.
Also in normal people, things in the stomach enter the esophagus and can be cleared into the stomach by swallowing. This is the acid clearing function of the esophagus to protect the esophagus from damage. The esophageal mucosa itself also has a protective function. If the protective function of the esophagus is reduced, it can also lead to gastroesophageal reflux.
Gastroesophageal reflux may be caused by a lesion in the stomach. For example, dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter, slowed gastric emptying, decreased peristaltic function of the esophagus itself, inability to rapidly remove reflux, protrusion of a portion of the stomach into the thoracic cavity to form a hiatal hernia, and destruction of the natural anti-reflux barrier. Gastroesophageal reflux is prone to occur.
In some patients, the contents of the duodenum can reflux into the stomach and from the stomach into the esophagus. Such patients will present with both acid reflux and alkaline reflux. There will be dry mouth, bitter mouth, nausea, vomiting of acid and bitter water.
Gastroesophageal reflux is related to diet. Excessive intake of poorly digested foods such as greasy, high fat, high protein and coarse fiber is an important trigger for reflux. The possibility of gastroesophageal reflux is higher when eating greasy and indigestible foods, especially if such foods are eaten for a long time. In addition to greasy foods, sweets also tend to cause acid reflux and heartburn, so try to avoid eating too much of them.
Prevention of gastroesophageal reflux is very important.
Lifestyle changes are associated with the best way to prevent acid reflux and heartburn. Try to eat less high-fat meals, chocolate, coffee, candy, sweet potatoes, potatoes, taro; strictly quit smoking and stop drinking alcohol; eat fewer meals, should not lie down immediately after meals, and it is best not to eat 2-3 hours before bedtime; if you are prone to acid reflux at night, it is best to raise the head of the bed 10-20 cm during sleep, all of 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, like anxiety and depression can make the digestive system react adversely, so it is equally important to pay attention to relieving stress when you are nervous.
The function of internal organs, especially the sphincter, is affected by the gradual decline of the elderly.
The treatment of GERD is a long-term, systematic process that is best treated by changing lifestyle habits or, if ineffective or if symptoms are severe, by medication.
Western medicine can be effective in treating GERD in the short term. But it will be repeated soon after stopping the medication. Long-term use of some drugs can have strong side effects.
Chinese medicine treatment for GERD mainly focuses on the cause and mechanism of the disease. It focuses on stomach disease to prevent cancer.