Adequate understanding of gastroesophageal reflux disease

  With the rapid development of China’s national economy, people’s living standards are booming, people’s horizons are gradually opening up, knowledge is gradually being updated, and a healthy and pleasant and gorgeous and comfortable quality of life has become a fashionable pursuit for people, however, how many people have had heartburn and acid reflux during meals, and how many people have had annoying and violent coughs and sputum production after meals, misery, sleep or in the morning (including the so-called “morning wetness”), or even asthma-like attacks (some had been considered when bronchial asthma Venus Road long-term treatment), how many people have been troubled by different degrees of foreign body sensation in the throat for a long time, or even at night by coughing, sputum and respiratory tract, resulting in inflammation of the larynx, organs, bronchial tubes and severe breathing difficulties, or even asphyxia.  All these phenomena are caused by a familiar but unfamiliar disease that people seem to know but lack of understanding – gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a disease caused by the reflux of stomach and duodenal contents into the esophagus, which can lead to inflammation, ulceration and even cancer of the esophageal mucosa.  The incidence of GERD increases with age, with a peak age of 40 – 60 years. Recently, it is believed that the incidence of this disease in China is significantly lower than abroad, the reason may be related to the lack of awareness and attention to this disease in the medical community, or only pay attention to its typical symptoms, such as heartburn and reflux, but not to the considerable number of patients manifested by cough, sputum, shortness of breath, as well as “asthma”, “coronary heart disease”, etc. It is not noted that a significant number of patients present with cough, sputum, shortness of breath, as well as “asthma”, “coronary heart disease” and a host of other symptoms that are also caused by this disease.  GERD is unique in that when the contents of the stomach and duodenum reflux into the pharynx, they can form fine particles or mist that can be sprayed into the larynx and inhaled into the trachea, bronchi and lungs, causing severe cough, sputum and dyspnea. The indigestion syndrome caused by it is self-explanatory. Therefore, in addition to heartburn and acid reflux as typical symptoms, atypical manifestations, such as chronic cough, hoarseness, foreign body sensation in the throat, snoring, nocturnal choking and/or episodes of dyspnea and asthma-like attacks, should be sought in the diagnosis of the disease.  Precise methods to diagnose GERD include: esophageal dynamometry – which can clarify whether the lower esophageal (and also upper) sphincter is relaxed and the peristaltic function of the esophagus is underground; 24-hour continuous monitoring of esophageal acidity – which can clarify in the upright and recumbent positions The number of refluxes (the number of PH < 4), the maximum reflux time and the exact time of occurrence of this reflux (at a certain time of the night), as well as the results of the score; gastroscopy - to determine the presence and severity of esophagitis and to exclude or detect gastric tumors, gastric ulcers and diaphragmatic hernias; multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) examination combined with esophageal acidity measurement - can detect a non-acidic esophageal reflux that is more difficult to diagnose and treat.  The goal of treating GERD is to control the patient's symptoms, cure the esophagitis, reduce recurrence and prevent a range of complications.  Lifestyle changes include reducing reflux that occurs at night and in the recumbent position, taking a sloped position (head padding alone is not enough) or elevating the head of the bed appropriately; eating slowly, having small and frequent meals, and never lying down immediately after eating, but only after at least 2 hours; reducing factors that cause increased abdominal pressure, such as not tightening the girdle, avoiding constipation and controlling body weight; refraining from high-fat foods, chocolate, coffee, and strong tea as much as possible. Coffee, strong tea, and quit smoking and alcohol.  Pharmacological treatment for GERD includes pro-gastrointestinal motility drugs (e.g. domperidone), gastric mucosal protective agents, H2 receptor antagonists (e.g. cimetidine) and proton pump inhibitors (e.g. esomeprazole, rabeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole, etc.). The above drugs are quite effective in relieving the symptoms of GERD. Although medications are effective in treating GERD, the relapse rate is high after stopping the medications, so long-term treatment is inevitable. Patients not only have to suffer from some complications caused by the drugs (such as indigestion or bloating due to reduced gastric acid, or worse, leukopenia), but also cause a lot of inconvenience to their lives. In addition, antacids are not effective in patients with non-acidic esophageal reflux. In addition, when the sphincter of the lower esophagus (especially the upper one) is relaxed, the refluxed material can be sprayed straight to the throat, which is obviously a mechanical lesion. In this case, GERD can be treated by forming an anti-reflux valve by using special treatment methods such as ultrasound radiofrequency, endoscopic endoluminal gastroplasty, biopolymer supplementation, total folding and plexus implantation, etc. These new technologies bring the advantages of simpler and less invasive treatment for GERD. It is also expected that this type of treatment will be completed simultaneously with the gastroscopic diagnosis of GERD patients.