25/01/2024
GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GERD)
Is a chronic digestive disease. occurs when stomach acid or, occasionally, stomach content, flows back into your food pipe (esophagus). The backwash (reflux) irritates the lining of your esophagus and causes GERD.
👉Both acid reflux and Heartburn are common digestive conditions that many people experience from time to time. When these signs and symptoms occur at least twice each week or interfere with your daily life, or when your doctor can see damage to your esophagus, you may be diagnosed with GERD.
👉Most people can manage the discomfort of GERD with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications. But some people with GERD may need stronger medications, or even surgery, to reduce symptoms.
SYMPTOMS
GERD signs and symptoms include:
👉A burning sensation in your chest (Heartburn), sometimes spreading to your throat, along with a sour taste in your mouth
Chest pain
👉Difficulty swallowing (Dysphagia)
👉Dry cough
👉Hoarseness or Sore throat
Regurgitation of food or sour liquid (acid reflux)
👉Sensation of a lump in your throat
👉Seek immediate medical attention if you experience Chest pain, especially if you have other signs and symptoms, such as shortness of breath or jaw or arm pain. These may be signs and symptoms of a Heart attack.
CAUSES
GERD is caused by frequent acid reflux — the backup of stomach acid or bile into the esophagus.
👉When you swallow, the lower esophageal sphincter — a circular band of muscle around the bottom part of your esophagus — relaxes to allow food and liquid to flow down into your stomach. Then it closes again.
However, if this valve relaxes abnormally or weakens, stomach acid can flow back up into your esophagus, causing frequent Heartburn. Sometimes this can disrupt your daily life.
This constant backwash of acid can irritate the lining of your esophagus, causing it to become inflamed (Esophagitis). Over time, the inflammation can wear away the esophageal lining, causing complications such as bleeding, esophageal narrowing or Barrett's esophagus (a precancerous condition
RISK FACTORS
Conditions that can increase your risk of GERD include:
👉Obesity
👉Bulging of top of stomach up into the diaphragm (Hiatal hernia)
👉Pregnancy
👉Smoking
👉Dry mouth
👉Asthma
👉Diabetes
👉Delayed stomach emptying
Connective tissue disorders, such as Scleroderma
👉COMPLICATIONS
Over time, chronic inflammation in your esophagus can lead to complications, including:
👉Narrowing of the esophagus (esophageal stricture). 👉Damage to cells in the lower esophagus from acid exposure leads to formation of scar tissue. The scar tissue narrows the food pathway, causing difficulty swallowing.
👉An open sore in the esophagus (esophageal ulcer). 👉Stomach acid can severely erode tissues in the esophagus, causing an open sore to form. The esophageal ulcer may bleed, cause pain and make swallowing difficult.
👉Precancerous changes to the esophagus (Barrett's esophagus). In Barrett's esophagus, the tissue lining the lower esophagus changes. 👉These changes are associated with an increased risk of Esophageal cancer. The risk of Cancer is low, but your doctor will likely recommend regular endoscopy exams to look for early warning signs of Esophageal cancer.
