Gastroesophageal reflux What is Gastroesophageal reflux? Gastroesophageal reflux is a medical condition characterized by reflux of acidic juices into the esophagus, resulting in symptoms of regurgitation (sour taste in mouth) and reflux (burning in the chest). This is an extremely common condition in the United States. Factors such as obesity, alcohol use, tobacco use, certain medications, and various diets and lifestyle decisions increase your risk of developing gastroesophageal reflux. Long term disease can lead to a precancerous condition called Barrett esophagus. Other serious complications include esophageal adhesions, constrictions, and cancer. Some patients may ultimately develop difficulty swallowing and weight loss – which may …show more content…
• How common is gastroesophageal reflux? • What are the symptoms and signs of gastroesophageal reflux? • How is gastroesophageal reflux diagnosed? • How is gastroesophageal reflux treated? What causes Gastroesophageal reflux? Gastroesophageal reflux is caused by the reflux of acidic juices from the stomach into the esophagus. This results in irritation of the esophageal lining – leading to chest burning and discomfort. Acid can also reach the throat resulting in the sensation of a sour taste in the mouth (regurgitation). Symptoms often occur after meals and may be associated other features of dyspepsia such as bloating and mild abdominal discomfort. Long term inflammation in the lower esophagus can lead to cellular changes that are precancerous if the problem is not corrected or reversed – Barrett esophagus. Eventually chronic irritation can lead to adenocarcinoma of the lower esophagus. Conditions that lead to acid reflux generally occur as a result of abnormal anatomic or pathophysiologic processes. Often times it is causes by increased intraabdominal pressure, which facilitates acid backflow from the stomach to the esophagus. Some of these can include: • Obesity • Pregnancy • Abdominal
The lining will be inflamed, and it may lead to ulcers (DeBruyne & Pinna, 2012). As a result of the damaged esophagus lining, overtime this client might experience difficult and painful swallowing; most importantly, this person might have respiratory problems since the stomach contents are getting into the lungs (DeBruyne & Pinna, 2012). Finally, this person esophageal cells might be damaged because of the continuous exposure to stomach acid and might eventually lead to
In this article, you are informed about a disease that is occurring more often in our society. It is commonly referred to as “heartburn” but is more appropriately named acid reflux disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Most people suffer from this disease, but think nothing of it. Perhaps they have felt it after a big meal, lying down after eating, during pregnancy, or even when bending over. Most people feel that GERD occurs after eating spicy foods, when in fact the major cause of GERD is fatty foods and the quantity of foods eaten.
GERD is a condition caused by stomach acid or stomach content coming up from the stomach into the esophagus. This backwash causes irritation in the esophagus, as the stomach acid damages the esophageal lining. Most cases of GERD occur in infants and adults. For infants, the most common cause of GERD is due to pyloric stenosis, a condition that affects the gastrointestinal tract as it narrows the pylorus. This causes food to flow backward as it cannot make its way to the stomach, thus causing the baby to vomit. In adults, the most common cause of
GERD disease, commonly referred to as GERD or acid reflux, is a condition in which the liquid content of the stomach regurgitates (backs up or refluxes) into the esophagus. The liquid can inflame and damage the lining (esophagitis) although visible signs of inflammation occur in a minority of patients. The regurgitated liquid usually contains acid and pepsin that are produced by the stomach. (Pepsin is an enzyme that begins the digestion of proteins in the stomach.) The refluxed liquid also may contain bile that has backed-up into the stomach from the duodenum. The first part of the small intestine attached to the stomach. Acid is believed to be the most injurious component of the refluxed liquid.
GERD is known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. It is best defined as a back flow of gastric or duodenal contents or both into the esophagus and past the lower esophageal sphincter. It can cause acute epigastric pain (heartburn). The pathophysiology of GERD is multifactorial, involving transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations and other lower esophageal sphincter pressure abnormalities. As a result, reflux of acid, bile, pepsin and pancreatic enzymes occur, leading to esophageal mucosal injury (Gastroesophageal Reflux disease, long-term care, 2017). The degree of mucosal injury is based on the amount and concentration of refluxed gastric acid, proteolytic enzymes and bile acids. Due to the lower esophageal sphincter being dysfunctional, the esophageal motility is slowed, leading to decreased clearance of acidic material.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is also known as GERD. This is caused by an incompetent lower esophageal sphincter. When the lower esophageal sphincter is functioning properly, it as an anti- reflux barrier. When it is incompetent, the LES allows gastric contents move from the stomach into the esophagus when the person is lying down in a supine position. Or it can be caused by intra-abdominal pressure. There is certain foods, medications, obesity, and pregnancy can exacerbate GERD. A person who smokes cigarettes or cigars is at risk for GERD. A hiatal hernia is a causative factor as well. (Perry, 2011).
Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), commonly known as Acid Reflux, is a disease that is now affecting a lot of teenagers over the world. GERD is a heartburn caused by a leaky valve at the base of your esophagus that allows stomach acid to regurgitate (Livestrong). GERD is also caused by a bacteria found in your stomach known as Helicobacter Pylori. H. Pylori attacks the lining of your stomach and later when it has done enough damage, acidic fluid is able to get through the lining and into your esophagus, causing a heartburn (WebMD). Most people do acquire h. pylori during their childhood but most only develop its symptoms later on in life and some are never affected by the bacteria, never developing any symptoms.
Heartburn is actually a symptom of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), and is caused by acid refluxing back into the esophagus. Risk factors include those that increase the production of acid in the stomach, as well as structural problems that allow acid reflux into the esophagus.
Gastroesophageal reflux is considered a normal physiological process in healthy infants, children and adults. Most episodes last less that 3 minutes and most occur 30-60 min after meals and with reclining positions. GERD is present when the symptoms, more than twice a week, cause troublesome symptoms or complication (Cash, 2011, pp. 200). These complications can occur with severe, frequent, and persistent acid reflux causing inflammation, ulcers, and scarring. GERD can also lead to changes in the cells lining the esophagus, known as Barrett's esophagus, these changes raise the risk of esophageal cancer.
Another major cause for the acidity is the consumption of oily foods and missing out on meals during any part of the day. In both the cases, again the acid that helps in the digestion will be produced in excess quantity than the usual and in the end will reach the heart if it does not have a proper place t go to. This leads to a condition called as heartburn (http://www.joybynature.com/collections/acidity).
Antacids are taken to neutralize the acid from the stomach (What is GERD?). It is important to note that antacids taken for long periods of time can harm the kidneys by a build up of magnesium in the body and an altered calciummetabolism (What is GERD?). Some other drugs that are also recommended by doctors are H2 blockers which inhibit acid secretion in the stomach. These include Zantac and Pepcid. It is very important to treat this disease because continual acid in the esophagus will lead to other even harmful diseases. If left untreated and acid reflux continues regularly, the patient is at risk for developing other various esophagus disorders such as, ulcers, Barret’s Disease, esophagitis, and esophageal adenocarcinoma (Sonnenberg). According to an article written by Ammon Sonnonberg and Heshem B. El-Serag, esophageal adenocarcinoma causes 2.5 deaths per million people. Often the symptoms of gastroesphageal reflux disease are a poor indicator to the severity of the disease and esophageal condition. A gastrointestinal endoscopy is usually performed to determine the condition of the esophagus (Sonnenberg). This can also be used to check the lower esophageal sphincter
Acid Reflux is excessive flow of gastric contents back into the esophagus. Normally, there is an occasional backflow into the esophagus with no symptoms. The acidic gastric contents, when present in large amounts, irritate the esophagus and cause the symptoms of heartburn.
Obesity, tobacco use, and the consumption of alcohol, spicy foods, coffee, caffeine, fatty foods, and chocolate have been implicated in causing GERD (Katz, Gerson, & Vela, 2013). Obesity increases abdominal pressure which forces gastric acid into the esophagus. The pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter is decreased with tobacco and chocolate allowing gastric acid access to the esophagus (Katz et al., 2013). Tobacco, alcohol, chocolate, and fatty foods slow peristalsis in the esophagus and prolong esophageal exposure to gastric acid (Katz et al., 2013). “Cigarette smoking stimulates acid production” (Dudley-Brown & Huether, 2012, p. 904). Consumption of alcohol and cocaine use inhibit the production of the protective mucus layer in the stomach which can cause gastritis and peptic ulcer
The covering of your throat (esophagus) is more sensitive than the coating of your stomach. Henceforth, the corrosive in your esophagus causes an inflammation in your chest. The pain can be burning, sharp, or a tight sensation. A few people may portray it as burning as distress that feels like it's situated back of the breastbone or that climbs around the neck and throat.
. Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease is a condition in which the reflux of gastric substance into the throat incites manifestations or entanglements and disables personal satisfaction. Run of the mill side effects of ageal reflux disease are indigestion and spewing forth yet gastro-oesophageal reflux sickness has likewise been identified with additional oesophageal indications, for example, asthma, ceaseless hack and laryngitis. The pathogenesis of gastro-oesophageal reflux illness is multifactorial, including transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxations and other lower oesophageal sphincter weight variations from the norm. Thus, reflux of corrosive, bile, pepsin and pancreatic chemicals happens, prompting to oesophageal mucosal damage.