What is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a disease in which heartburn and acid reflux are the main symptoms caused by the reflux of gastroduodenal contents into the esophagus.
What are the symptoms of GERD?
Esophageal symptoms include heartburn, acid reflux, chest pain (non-cardiogenic), difficulty swallowing and pain.
Symptoms outside the esophagus include croup, cough, hoarseness, sore throat, and abdominal pain.
Why do you get this disease?
1. weakened anti-reflux mechanism of the esophagus; (weakened anti-reflux barrier, weakened ability of the esophagus to clear reflux, weakened resistance of the esophageal mucosa)
2, attack disease of the esophagus by reflux material damaging the esophageal mucosa.
3, damage to the outside of the esophagus.
Who is prone to get this disease?
1, middle-aged and elderly; it is believed that the onset of the disease increases with age, with a peak incidence at the age of 40-60.
2, men; there are significantly more male patients than female, with a male to female ratio of 2-3:1.
3, obesity; overweight is the prevalent phenomenon of the disease, the more weight gain in the short term, the more likely reflux and heartburn symptoms.
4, smoking and alcohol consumption; frequent smoking a risk factor for the disease, and drinking alcohol more than 7 times a week will cause frequent reflux symptoms.
5, hiatal hernia; with increasing age (especially >50 years), atrophy and relaxation of the diaphragmatic ligaments leads to esophageal hiatal hernia, which can also be induced by long-term increased abdominal pressure, including obesity, pregnancy and constipation, as well as intense coughing
6, mental factors, usual exertion, mental tension and anger can also lead to the occurrence of the disease.
What do you need to pay attention to in life when you have GERD?
1. Diet and activities
(1) When the symptoms are obvious, give a warm and liquid diet.
(2) When in remission, a semi-liquid diet with high calories, high protein, high vitamins and easy to digest is the mainstay. Do not eat 2 hours before bedtime, and avoid high fat (fatty meat, egg yolk, various animal offal), chocolate, coffee, strong tea, etc.
(3) Do not strenuous activities after meals, minimize bending, squatting, abdominal posture, choose relaxed, soothing activities, such as walking, absolutely not to sleep after meals, lying and sedentary, etc., these can aggravate reflux.
2.Posture and dressing requirements
(1) keep upright after meals, sleep with the head of the bed elevated, or padded upper body, elevated 15-20cm.
(2) Do not wear tight-fitting clothes, trouser pockets should not be too tight, avoid lifting heavy objects with force, especially after meals do not bend over.
(3) change the bad sleeping posture, do not sleep with the upper arm up or pillow under the head.