The pain of gastroesophageal reflux, even delicious food has to give in to it

During the Spring Festival, people stayed at home and enjoyed the rich food and abundant dishes. However, some people who stayed at home experienced symptoms such as reflux, heartburn, chest pain, and belching. This is probably caused by reflux esophagitis.

Let us unveil its mystery together.

Reflux esophagitis (RE) is actually a type of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which refers to a disease in which the esophageal mucosa is damaged due to the reflux of acidic or alkaline substances. In simple terms, the liquid digested in the stomach does not flow downward, but instead hurts the esophagus upward. During the Spring Festival holiday, due to various reasons such as overeating due to social gatherings or lack of restraint, smoking and drinking, it is very easy to increase the pressure in the esophagus, damage the mucosa and cause reflux esophagitis.

Among digestive system diseases, reflux esophagitis is a common disease, and its incidence usually increases with age. This is because with increasing age, the adaptability of the corresponding structure and function of the esophagus gradually decreases. When our body is damaged by diet or other external factors, it will be more likely to warn us and ask for help than when we were young, and therefore more cases of morbidity will occur.

So after we have a preliminary understanding of reflux esophagitis, what symptoms will indicate that we may have reflux esophagitis so that we can prescribe the right medicine and seek treatment?

The main symptoms of reflux esophagitis include reflux and heartburn. So some friends must have questions, what is reflux? What are the symptoms of heartburn? In fact, it is very simple. Reflux refers to the feeling that the contents of the stomach and duodenum will flow into the mouth or pharynx without nausea and straining. Sometimes it is accompanied by a sour taste, which is called acid reflux; and heartburn refers to the burning sensation behind the sternum or xiphoid process, which is what we often call a burning pain in the chest, which usually extends upward from the lower part of the sternum.

If you feel acid reflux or heartburn one hour after a meal or when you sleep at night, and even feel more uncomfortable when you lie down or bend over, you should be aware that these symptoms may be caused by reflux esophagitis. (It should be noted here that the heartburn symptoms at this time have nothing to do with heart disease, such as angina pectoris. So if friends have heartburn symptoms, they don’t need to worry or be afraid, let alone be suspicious. The cause of heartburn is the discomfort caused by stomach acid entering the esophagus, and other situations can also cause this symptom, such as being overweight, pregnant, or drinking a lot of alcohol.)

Other symptoms include chest pain, upper abdominal pain, upper abdominal burning, belching, etc. In addition, about 21% to 63% of patients also experience indigestion. If you find yourself experiencing the corresponding situation, you should seek medical attention in time, actively treat it, and seek help from a doctor.

The complications of reflux esophagitis are relatively rare, but if not treated in time, some serious complications may occur, such as upper gastrointestinal bleeding, esophageal stenosis, Barrett's esophagus, etc. So this reminds us that when we encounter symptoms of the disease, we must seek medical treatment in time and never delay!

If you suffer from reflux esophagitis, you should first relax your mind, actively treat it, and don't be afraid of it. If the patient can adhere to taking medicine and cooperate with the treatment, the cure rate of reflux esophagitis will be very high, and the incidence of serious complications is particularly low, and the mortality rate related to esophagitis is extremely low. It is a relief to hear this. In general, most patients with reflux esophagitis are chronic recurrent, and if the treatment is not discontinued casually, the symptoms will not recur easily.

So after understanding the corresponding symptoms of reflux esophagitis, how should we take care of our bodies, prevent symptoms, and avoid the erosion of diseases while staying at home to rest and enjoy delicious food? We can follow the following "two aspects and seven points".

1. First of all, we should do the following in our daily life:

1. Raise your pillow when sleeping to prevent acid reflux;

2. Be careful not to tie your belt too tight to avoid high intra-abdominal pressure and thus causing symptoms;

3. If you are constipated, do not strain to defecate, as this may also cause reflux;

Second, in terms of eating habits:

1. Quit smoking, reduce or even stop drinking;

2. Avoid overeating and eat small and frequent meals;

3. Avoid eating spicy and irritating foods, such as too much pepper, sour apricots, etc.;

4. Avoid eating greasy foods high in fat.

In short, we need to maintain a relaxed mindset, a positive attitude, respond positively, and properly handle reflux esophagitis.

Finally, I wish our readers a happy new year and all the best!