Gastroesophageal reflux disease: classification, symptoms and treatment, diet, folk remedies

click fraud protection

Heartburn and discomfort in eating can be signals of a violation - reflux into the lower part of the esophagus. You should consult a specialist for advice. In the early stages of the disease, the implementation of simple recommendations will help to regulate failures in the work of organs and avoid possible complications.

What is gastroesophageal reflux disease?

Dysfunction in the digestive system, which manifests itself in an unnatural return of part of the contents of the duodenum or stomach to the lower part of the esophagus. This situation is repeated and is spontaneous.

Causes of

Disease is caused by the following disorders:

• The esophagus sphincter of the lower part has a lowered tone.
• Esophagus is not coping well with the self-cleaning function.
• The substance that returns to the lower part of the esophagus is not inherent in its internal membranes and has a damaging effect.
• Stomach has problems with proper emptying.
• The inner layer of the esophagus is unable to protect itself from the damaging effect of refluxate.
instagram viewer
• Esophagus narrowed in the area of ​​the lower part.
• Intra-abdominal pressure tends to be elevated.

Contribute to the onset and development of the disease:

• if professional activity forces you to often be in an inclined position,
• experiencing stressful situations,
• taking medications that cause dopamine concentration on the periphery( phenylethylamine derivatives);
• Eating:
  • spicy dishes,
  • fatty foods,
  • alcohol,
  • coffee,
  • chocolate,
  • fruit juices;
• smoking habit,
• heightened body weight,
• pregnancy.

Symptoms of reflux

The fact that a person has a disorder associated with the return of some of the contents from the stomach or duodenum to the lower part of the esophagus can be judged by such signals:

• the main manifestation of the disorder is heartburn,
• can also be observed acidic burp,
• tothe symptoms of reflux are attributed to the circumstances that the previous two symptoms occur:
  • at night, especially if before it was a tight dinner;
  • if a person is forced to remain in an inclined position,
  • after eating.

The disease also has manifestations that affect the functioning of other organs:

• otolaryngological symptoms:
  • sensation of dryness in the throat - laryngitis,
  • hoarse voice - pharyngitis;
  • rhinitis;
• pulmonary symptoms that most often appear when a person lies:
  • shortness of breath,
  • cough;
• gastric symptoms:
  • bloating,
  • rapid saturation,
  • nausea;
• as well:
  • tooth erosion,
  • retrosternal pains that resemble angina pectoris;
  • pain in the back.

Video about GERD symptoms:

Symptoms of GERD with esophagitis

Reflux in the esophagus region is capable of causing such reactions in it:

• inflammation,
• ulceration of the walls,
• , modification of the lining layer in contact with reflux, in a form unusual for a healthy body;
• narrowing of the lower part of the esophagus.

Esophagitis is a disease of the esophagus, triggered by the aggressive effect of refluxate on its walls.

Inflammatory esophageal processes associated with reflux manifested through symptoms:

• stomach pain,
• heartburn,
• nausea,
• sour belch.

Features of GERD in children

Gastroesophageal reflux in infants is quite normal. A child regurgitates food because of the characteristics of this age. By the year this factor usually disappears.

In the event that the reflux causes lesions of the esophagus, then it leads to illness. Signs that the esophagus is affected by the lesion of the walls:

• regurgitation passes into intense vomiting,
• baby whiny,
• observed cough,
• vomiting can be with blood,
• no appetite,
• child is restless,
• is poorly gaining weight.

Classification of the disease

The disease caused by reflux has two manifestations:

• Reflux-esophagitis - occurs in every third patient of GERD.This form of the disease suggests that the walls of the esophagus are affected by the effects of refluxtate.
• Non-erosive reflux disease - 70% of people who have reflux do not have serious lesions of the esophagus.

Specialists distinguish four degrees in the defeat of the esophagus reflux:

1. Linear lesion - there are separate areas of mucosal inflammation and foci of erosion on its surface.
2. Drainage defeat - the negative process spreads to a large surface due to the discharge of several foci into continuous inflamed areas, but not the entire mucosa area is affected by the lesion.
3. Circular lesion - inflammation zones and foci of erosion cover the entire internal surface of the esophagus.
4. Stenosing lesion - on the background of complete damage to the internal surface of the esophagus, complications already occur.

Complications of

Lesion of esophageal mucosa as a consequence of the negative effect of reflux on it:

• , a jaundiced erosive disease, the
• Barrett's esophagus corresponds to a state where flat epithelial cells degenerate into another species-cylindrical cells;
• stricture of the esophagus( reduced lumen).

Diagnosis

Methods that investigate the disease and determine the presence of possible pathological changes associated with it:

• Daily monitoring of acidity in the lower esophagus provides information on the frequency of casting and how long it has a separate reflux. Knowledge of these data helps specialists to decide on the methods of treatment.
• Endoscopic examination provides a picture of the condition of the inner lining of the esophagus and the extent of its possible lesions.
• X-ray examination in the area of ​​the esophagus gives specialists information about specific mucosal lesions.
• Manometric study studies the ability of sphincters to cope with their function.
• Impedance-pH-metry of the esophagus - the study determines the degree of acidity of refluxes and how peristalsis works.
• Gastroesophageal scintigraphy - a study examining the ability of the digestive organs to cleanse.

How to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease?

It is advisable to notice a violation as early as possible, because at an early stage the disease reacts to patient compliance with the rules of behavior and nutrition. Selection by a specialist of drugs can significantly alleviate the condition of the patient.

Medications

To improve the health of a person suffering from reflux, use drugs of this direction:

• Antisecretory drugs have the function of reducing the negative effect of hydrochloric acid on the esophagus. These include:
  • nizatidine,
  • cimetidine,
  • famotidine,
  • roxatidine.
• Reparants are agents that help restore the inner layer of the esophagus. This:
  • misoprostol,
  • dalargin,
  • sea buckthorn oil.
• Prokinetics - the drugs are aimed at reducing the incidence of reflux, in connection with the correction of the sphincter. This:
  • metoclopramide,
  • domperidone.
• Antacids - mute the action of hydrochloric acid, help to occur esophageal cleansing. This is:
  • maalox,
  • phosphatulogel.

Operation

If other methods do not work, then surgical intervention is recommended.

Another indication for the surgical method of treatment is the presence of such lesions:

• ulcers of the esophageal surface layer,
• strictures or in other words - narrowing of the esophagus in those places where it experiences the aggressive influence of refluxate;
• Barrett's esophagus - when the epithelial cells, as a result of the disease, degenerate into a cylindrical form, which is very unfavorable for health;
• when the patient reflux-esophagitis reaches the third and fourth degrees.

Folk remedies

To apply traditional medicine, you should get a specialist consultation. Well-established recipes:

• Take sea buckthorn oil or rose hips. The dose is selected individually: from a teaspoon three times a day to one serving at night;
• Take thrice-a-day decoction of flax seeds for one-third of the glass at the reception.

Diet

To improve the condition of a patient with gastroesophageal reflux disease, some rules for making menus should be observed. Should be discarded from dishes and products:

• chocolate,
• fried dishes,
• radishes,
• spicy dishes,
• coffee,
• juices,
• flour products,
• citrus fruit,
• alcohol.

Video on how to eat with gastroesophageal reflux disease:

Forecast

If timely action is taken to correct behavior towards a healthy lifestyle and fulfill the prescription of a doctor, then the outlook is favorable.

Prevention

The methods that help prevent disease include:

• Take food at least two hours before bedtime.
• Ensure that the head is in a raised position during sleep.
• Follow the diet.
• Choose clothes so that the area of ​​the stomach and lower part of the esophagus does not have a squeezing effect.
• After eating for two hours, avoid occupations requiring a person to incline poses.
• Try to get rid of the habit of smoking, in the extreme case - to avoid cases, do it on an empty stomach.
• Ensure that the weight is approaching the norm.
• Food should be organized in divided batches, but by frequent methods.