Thursday, May 17th, 2012

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Acid Reflux


 


What is Acid Reflux ?

 

Acid Reflux, GERD(Gastroesophageal reflux disease) or GORD(Gastro-oesphageal reflux disease) is characterized as mucosal damage suffered when the acid from the stomach has gone up into the esophagus. Acid Reflux presents itself mostly when the barrier between the stomach and the esophagus has weakened, and the lower esophageal sphincter is found in an abnormal state of relaxation; most common symptom being heartburn.

Acid Reflux can also cause respiratory and laryngeal symptoms, often this type of Acid Reflux is called LPR(Laryngopharyngeal reflux) or EERD (Extraesophageal reflux disease); Also called silent reflux, this type of Acid Reflux is unlikely to cause heartburn.
GERD may also lead to Barrett’s esophagus; The progression from Barrett’s syndrome to dysphagia is not certain but it has been found to happen in 20% of the cases. Because of the risk of chronic heartburn developing into Barrett’s Syndrome, every 5 years it is recommended that patients with chronic heartburn or patients who take medication for chronic GERD get an EGD(esophagogastroduodenoscopy.)

How to prevent it ?

Raising the upper body with pillows or sleeping sitting up was found to give relief to patients.

It is recommended to eat small frequent meals because large meals cause production of excess stomach acid, it is also indicated to avoid food that may trigger your symptoms like fatty foods, coffee, tea, onions, chocolate, acidic fruits and juice, peppermint or spiced foods especially before bedtime.

Also avoid wearing tight clothing around the abdomen as it can increase the risk of heartburn because it puts pressure on the stomach which may push food and acids of the stomach into the lower esophageal sphincter.

Acid reflux can present itself in a number of symptoms, most common ones ranging in Adults from heartburn to regurgitation to trouble swallowing(dysphagia) and less-common ones like pain when swallowing(odynophagia), nausea, chest pain, excesive salivation, and in Children and Infants the symptoms may range from vomiting to coughing to respiratory problems although it is estimated that 35% of the babies born in the US each year will have problems with acid reflux, most of them will outgrow reflux in 1-2 years.

Cause

Acid reflux is caused by the failure of the Cardia(the part of the stomach that is attached to the Esophagus). Normally the Angle of His(the angle created between the cardia at the entrance of the stomach and the Esophagus) creates a valve that prevents stomach acid, enzymes and duodenal bile from going up the Esophagus causing inflammation. In infants the angle of His is undeveloped and as a result reflux is quite common.

There are also a number of factors that can contribute to acid reflux, such as obisity, hypercalcemia, scleroderma, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, visceroptosis. It was also found that 40% of acid reflux(GERD) patients also suffered from Helicobacter pylori(gram-negative bacteria) infection altough no significant difference was found between patients with H. pylori infection and normal patients in regards to the severity of the disease.

We strongly recommend that you consult your doctor if you think you have some of the symptoms enumerated here. You can also check these articles for more information: Acid reflux diet and Acid reflux symptoms.


Acid reflux

Acid reflux