Acid Reflux
Unquestionably, the modern American diet is causing digestive problems like our nation has never seen. On top of that, the stress of today's hectic schedules can keep many from eating as healthy as they would like. If you're one of the many experiencing more than your share of heartburn, you may be suffering from acid reflux. But how can you tell if you're just having a little heartburn, or you've got a more serious condition that requires medical attention from a qualified GI physician in Queens? Here's some information on the warning signs and complications of acid reflux, as well as some of the treatments that can minimize or eliminate painful symptoms that can keep many of us here from living a full life.
Definition
Gastroenterology is the study of diseases that affect the stomach, intestines, and associated organs. According to GI doctors, acid reflux, or 'gastroesophageal reflux disease' (GERD), is a chronic digestive disease that occurs when stomach acid or, occasionally, bile flows back (refluxes) into your esophagus. This acid backwash begins to irritate the lining of your esophagus, and that's what causes GERD. Although you may just find the pain that goes along with GERD to be a nuisance now, what you might not realize is that the chronic pain you're feeling could be causing other complications, including open sores and precancerous conditions within your esophagus. When you swallow, the lower part of your esophagus, or 'lower esophageal sphincter,' relaxes, or opens, to allow the liquids and foods you consume to flow down into your stomach. After this happens, it closes again. If this organ begins to weaken, its ability to relax can be compromised, allowing stomach acid to flow back up into the esophagus, causing heartburn. This can cause a continuous backwash of acid that irritates the esophageal lining, causing 'esophagitis,' or inflammation of the esophagus. Over time, this inflammation can cause esophageal erosion, a very serious medical condition that can produce complications such as bleeding or even breathing problems.
Symptoms
Acid reflux can be experienced due to a number of factors, including overeating and obesity; eating trigger foods such as caffeine, spicy or citrusy foods, garlic, alcohol, or carbonated beverages; smoking; delayed stomach emptying; pregnancy; hiatal hernia; dry mouth; diabetes; and asthma. The most prevalent warning signs of acid reflux are indigestion, heartburn, and regurgitation.
GI doctors call it 'dyspepsia,' but the rest of us know it as indigestion. Just about everyone has experienced a little indigestion here and there. If your indigestion is occurring more often, however, and you find that it's accompanied by more intense symptoms such as upper abdominal pain, bloating, stomach pain, and even nausea or vomiting, this may be acid reflux.
As with indigestion, most people have experienced heartburn at one time or another. Heartburn is that sensation in your chest, and sometimes in your throat, that makes you feel like your insides are on fire. Most people can manage the occasional heartburn they experience with over-the-counter medications or lifestyle changes such as changes in their diet.
Acid reflux can also cause regurgitation. This is a kind of 'wet burp' that causes acid to back up in the throat. Regurgitation can cause vomiting, chest pain; chronic hiccups, dry cough, and throat discomfort such as hoarseness or the feeling of a lump in the throat. Chronic regurgitation can cause sore throats and swallowing difficulties that make it hard to eat.
Complications and treatment
Acid reflux can become serious if left untreated by a qualified GI doctor. Complications can include esophageal narrowing causing scar tissue and difficulty swallowing, as well as diseases of the esophagus such as esophageal ulcers and 'Barrett's esophagus,' which is precancerous changes in the esophagus that can lead to cancer. The first step in treating acid reflux is avoidance of trigger foods that cause discomfort from GERD. Prescription medications are often given for the treatment of acid reflux. If symptoms don't go away with lifestyle and dietary changes combined with prescription medications, your GI doctor may recommend surgery. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is a procedure that allows gastro doctors to explore the interior lining of your stomach, esophagus, and duodenum (the first part of your small intestine). This will enable your GI doctor to diagnose any problems such as inflammation or narrowing of the esophagus, ulcers, hiatal hernia, or cancer.
If you suffer from indigestion, heartburn, or regurgitation more than once a week, and the symptoms are interfering with your life or medications aren't helping anymore, you should seek medical attention from a gastro doctor for testing and treatment.
Definition
Gastroenterology is the study of diseases that affect the stomach, intestines, and associated organs. According to GI doctors, acid reflux, or 'gastroesophageal reflux disease' (GERD), is a chronic digestive disease that occurs when stomach acid or, occasionally, bile flows back (refluxes) into your esophagus. This acid backwash begins to irritate the lining of your esophagus, and that's what causes GERD. Although you may just find the pain that goes along with GERD to be a nuisance now, what you might not realize is that the chronic pain you're feeling could be causing other complications, including open sores and precancerous conditions within your esophagus. When you swallow, the lower part of your esophagus, or 'lower esophageal sphincter,' relaxes, or opens, to allow the liquids and foods you consume to flow down into your stomach. After this happens, it closes again. If this organ begins to weaken, its ability to relax can be compromised, allowing stomach acid to flow back up into the esophagus, causing heartburn. This can cause a continuous backwash of acid that irritates the esophageal lining, causing 'esophagitis,' or inflammation of the esophagus. Over time, this inflammation can cause esophageal erosion, a very serious medical condition that can produce complications such as bleeding or even breathing problems.
Symptoms
Acid reflux can be experienced due to a number of factors, including overeating and obesity; eating trigger foods such as caffeine, spicy or citrusy foods, garlic, alcohol, or carbonated beverages; smoking; delayed stomach emptying; pregnancy; hiatal hernia; dry mouth; diabetes; and asthma. The most prevalent warning signs of acid reflux are indigestion, heartburn, and regurgitation.
GI doctors call it 'dyspepsia,' but the rest of us know it as indigestion. Just about everyone has experienced a little indigestion here and there. If your indigestion is occurring more often, however, and you find that it's accompanied by more intense symptoms such as upper abdominal pain, bloating, stomach pain, and even nausea or vomiting, this may be acid reflux.
As with indigestion, most people have experienced heartburn at one time or another. Heartburn is that sensation in your chest, and sometimes in your throat, that makes you feel like your insides are on fire. Most people can manage the occasional heartburn they experience with over-the-counter medications or lifestyle changes such as changes in their diet.
Acid reflux can also cause regurgitation. This is a kind of 'wet burp' that causes acid to back up in the throat. Regurgitation can cause vomiting, chest pain; chronic hiccups, dry cough, and throat discomfort such as hoarseness or the feeling of a lump in the throat. Chronic regurgitation can cause sore throats and swallowing difficulties that make it hard to eat.
Complications and treatment
Acid reflux can become serious if left untreated by a qualified GI doctor. Complications can include esophageal narrowing causing scar tissue and difficulty swallowing, as well as diseases of the esophagus such as esophageal ulcers and 'Barrett's esophagus,' which is precancerous changes in the esophagus that can lead to cancer. The first step in treating acid reflux is avoidance of trigger foods that cause discomfort from GERD. Prescription medications are often given for the treatment of acid reflux. If symptoms don't go away with lifestyle and dietary changes combined with prescription medications, your GI doctor may recommend surgery. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is a procedure that allows gastro doctors to explore the interior lining of your stomach, esophagus, and duodenum (the first part of your small intestine). This will enable your GI doctor to diagnose any problems such as inflammation or narrowing of the esophagus, ulcers, hiatal hernia, or cancer.
If you suffer from indigestion, heartburn, or regurgitation more than once a week, and the symptoms are interfering with your life or medications aren't helping anymore, you should seek medical attention from a gastro doctor for testing and treatment.