Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease General Information

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, also known as acid reflux, GERD or GORD (in the British medical dictionary) is rather considered a symptom than a disease. This medical condition is represented by the chronic mucosal damages and symptoms that are the result of an abnormal reflux inside the esophagus. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is caused by the permanent or transient modifications that occur in the barrier that is between the stomach and the esophagus. These changes can develop in the case of hiatus hernia, transient relaxation of the cardia orifice (also known as gastroesophageal junction or esophagogastric junction), and incompetence of the cardia or an impaired expulsion of gastric reflux from the esophagus. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, a common form of GER (gastroesophageal reflux) is a serious medical condition that can affect all age groups without an obvious predisposition for a gender. When dealing with this disorder the liquid content inside the stomach refluxes or backs up into the esophagus; this process is commonly referred to as regurgitation. The contents that were regurgitated can damage or inflame the esophagus lining, causing another medical condition known as esophagitis. This liquid usually contains pepsin and acid, substances produced by the stomach mucous membrane or bile that has backed up from the first part of the small intestine called duodenum. The signs of this type of inflammation are not very visible. The acid component is considered the most dangerous because it produces most of the injuries, although the pepsin and the bile can also inflame or damage the esophagus.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease appear in different forms in adults than in children. These symptoms can vary from mild to severe forms. The most common signs and symptoms of this kind of disease that are experienced by adults include heart burn, inflammatory changes in the patient’s esophageal lining, pain in the chest or upper area of the abdomen, especially pain that disrupts sleep, dysphagia, which is a condition characterized by difficulty in swallowing, regurgitation, characterized by a backflow with stomach fluids that comes to the mouth, cough, sore throat, chronic ear ache, hoarseness, nausea or sinusitis. If the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is not treated in an early stage it can develop complications such as esophageal spasms, esophageal ulcers, Barrett's esophagus, which can easily cause esophageal cancer, particularly in patients with the age over sixty years. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease can cause different signs and symptoms in children. This is why doctors may find it challenging to diagnose the disease. The most common symptoms that appear is children can include repeated vomiting, effortless spitting up, cough, respiratory dysfunctions, failure to gain adequate weight, refusing food, belching or burping and inconsolable crying. There are cases in which the disease can cause only one symptom, which makes it even more difficult to be diagnosed, or no symptoms at all, considered universal for all children. If the disease is not treated in an early stage, children can also develop many complications and worsening of the present signs and symptoms. Some of them even started to experience symptoms of heartburn.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Treatment

It is vital for the patient’s health to consult as soon as possible with a health care provider if he or she is suspected of having Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. This condition is a serious one and due to the fact that it can cause really severe complications, it requires a prompt treatment. Before proceeding with any type of treatment option, the medical professional must carefully exam the patient in order to give the right diagnosis. To determine more quickly and in a more accurate way the presence of this medical disorder, any health care provider must be informed in detail about the patient’s medical health history. Very useful examinations are the esophageal manometry, an EGD (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy), barium swallow followed by X-rays and monitoring of the esophageal pH for 24 hours. EGD is a form of endoscopy that is used in order to asses the interior parts of the stomach, esophagus and duodenum (the first fix part of the small intestine). Biopsies are also very useful and they are usually performed during a gastroscopy because they reveal the existence of papillae elongation, carcinomas, basal hyperplasia and edema, pre-cancers (dysplasia), eosinophilic, neutrophilic and lymphocytic inflammations or thinning of the squamous cell layer.

After the diagnosis of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease is known for sure, the health care providers can apply the proper type of treatment that best fits with the patient’s health status and demands. The diet is the most important factor when dealing with this condition-Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Many physicians advise the individual suffering from this medical disorder to change her or his lifestyle, but only in the case that medications are not effective enough against GERD. For example, if you want to get rid faster of the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, you should avoid drinking milk or consuming other products based on milk that have a rich content in fats and calcium before going to bed. Try not to eat later than 3-4 hours before your bed time and only short meals. The smaller meals should be numerous because in comparison with the larger ones, these actually reduce the risk of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Avoid amounts of Vitamin C that are considered excessive, as well as chocolate, alcohol, peppermint, or coffee because these products stimulate the gastric acid secretions. The foods that are considered to be acid, such as tomatoes or oranges, along with cabbage, Brussels sprouts, onion, broccoli, cauliflower or spinach and other more cruciferous vegetables are on the list of foods that promote the appearance of this type of gastric disorder. Along the dietary method, there are several drugs that can be successfully be used to treat this disease. All the medicines preferred when dealing with this medical condition are prescribed in all Western countries and are usually given in combination with other drugs although there is the possibility that a number of antacids interfere in the mechanism of other drugs. Some examples of the most used drugs against this gastroesophageal disorder are: antacids (that increase the pH and reduce the acidity), proton pump inhibitors (reduce significantly the gastric acid secretions) and the prokinetics.