Lying down right after eating? Ask a digestive expert if this is okay

Do you often feel acid reflux, heartburn, loss of appetite, insomnia, and extreme discomfort? This may be gastroesophageal reflux disease. What is the reason for constant acid reflux?

What is gastroesophageal reflux

The food we eat goes through the esophagus into the stomach. The cardia is the connection between the esophagus and the stomach. It is a one-way structure that allows food to enter the stomach from the esophagus and generally does not flow back from the stomach into the esophagus.

The cardia may age or become structurally damaged for other reasons, causing it to not close tightly enough, allowing food to flow back from the stomach into the esophagus.

What are the common symptoms?

Acid reflux, heartburn, and bitter taste in the mouth are common symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease. If the reflux tastes sour, it is called acid reflux; if it tastes bitter, it may be bile reflux.

Heartburn refers to a burning sensation in the pit of the stomach, or discomfort in the center or left side of the chest. In many cases, it is similar to the symptoms of heart disease. In this case, you need to go to the hospital for further examination and diagnosis.

What harm will it bring

The area above and below the cardia are two different worlds. The esophageal mucosa cannot withstand the corrosion of gastric acid. When gastric acid and food reflux into the esophagus, it may cause esophageal inflammation, ulcers, bleeding, and even local development into malignant tumors.

In addition, some patients suffer from frequent acid reflux that affects their sleep at night, while some patients give up various delicacies for fear of acid reflux, which seriously reduces their quality of life.

Therefore, if acid reflux and heartburn occur frequently, do not take it lightly and seek medical attention promptly.

How to check ? How to treat ? Gastroscopy

Gastroscopy is an important means to accurately diagnose gastroesophageal reflux disease. Through gastroscopy, we can see the condition of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum, check whether the esophagus has inflammation or ulcers caused by reflux, and especially screen for early esophageal cancer and gastric cancer.

At present, gastroscopy is usually done under anesthesia, and it can be done in a sleep, so there will be no pain. However, after waking up, you may feel a little sleepy due to the effect of the anesthetic, so it is recommended that you be accompanied by a relative or friend.

Improve your lifestyle

0 1 Lie down three hours after eating

If reflux symptoms occur, it is recommended to lie down at least three hours after eating. For those who have the habit of taking a lunch break, do not eat too much for lunch because the lunch break is short.

0 2 Control tobacco, alcohol and carbonated drinks

Tobacco, alcohol, and carbonated drinks can easily induce reflux symptoms and need to be controlled as much as possible.

0 3Control your weight

Obesity is also directly related to reflux. Control calorie intake, exercise properly, and develop a good lifestyle.

0 4Keep a good mood

Symptoms of the stomach and esophagus are often related to mood, so it is also very important to regulate emotions and relieve tension.

Drug treatment

If lifestyle adjustments still cannot control symptoms, drug treatment is needed. Some people will choose some acid-suppressing drugs on their own. It should be noted that if the symptoms are still not controlled after taking the medicine for a week, you must go to the hospital for treatment to avoid delaying the disease.

Surgery

For very stubborn reflux symptoms, surgical treatment can be considered. Traditional gastroesophageal reflux disease surgery requires a relatively large thoracotomy, but there are now many endoscopic minimally invasive treatments.

Under endoscopy, mucosal resection, mucosal ligation and other methods can be used to shrink the local scar, make the cardia smaller and reduce reflux symptoms.