ACID REFLUX Or GERD (Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease)
ESOPHAGUS
Esophagus is a food pipe, that carries food from pharynx to stomach. Length of esophagus is about 25cm. Few common diseases arise in esophagus are acid reflux, achalasia, cancer and varices.
ACID REFLUX or GERD (Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease)
Burning pain or heartburn felt in chest region.
What is Acid reflux?
At the junction of esophagus and stomach, lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is present. Normally LES closes as food passes through it. If LES does not close or open too often due to weakening or loss of function, the acid produced in the stomach travel back into the esophagus (food pipe). This can leads to symptoms like burning pain in the chest. If these symptoms occurs frequently more than two times in a week, then it can be labelled as Acid reflux disease or Gastro-esophageal reflex disease.
What is Acid reflux?
- • Eating large quantities of meal
- • Sleeping immediately after intake of the meal
- • Obesity
- • Taking meal during midnight
- • Alcohol, smoking, tobacco chewing, cool drinks, coffee or tea
- • Pregnancy
- • Hiatal hernia
What are the common symptoms of Acid reflux disease?
- • Burning sensation in the chest
- • Indigestion
- • Bloating or belching
- • Soreness of liquid in the mouth
- • Bad breath
- • Difficulty in swallowing
- • Cough during night time
How to diagnosis of Acid reflux disease?
- Upper gastro intestinal endoscopy.
- Oesophageal manometry to look for function of the lower esophageal sphincter.
What is the treatment of Acid reflux disease?
- • Modification of lifestyle and dietary habits like avoiding smoking and alcohol, carbonated drinks, tea and coffee, spicy and masala foods and junk foods.
- • Maintaining regular eating pattern.
- • Reducing weight.
- • Medications that helps in decreasing the acid production and helps in forward movement of the acid.
What is the treatment of Acid reflux disease?
If your symptoms does not subsided with medications, a surgical procedure called FUNDOPLICATION, that is wrapping the stomach around the junction between the stomach and esophagus. It can be done laparoscopically and patient can be discharged in 2 days.
