Causes, symptoms and treatment of reflux disease
The burning, painful feeling in the chest area in connection with acid burping is widespread. Every second person in Germany occasionally suffers from heartburn. This is often caused by a reflux of digestive juice from the stomach into the oesophagus, also known as reflux. If the symptoms occur regularly, the diagnosis is usually: reflux disease.
What causes the painful reflux into the esophagus?
Between the stomach and the esophagus, a sphincter muscle ensures that the food can slide into the stomach, but does not come up again. If this valve does not close properly, the acid stomach contents enter the esophagus and cause the painful symptoms there.
Men and women are equally affected
According to the Association of Established Gastroenterologists (BnG), ten to 20 percent of the population suffer from reflux disease. “Men and women of all ages are equally affected by the chronic disease,” explains Dagmar Mainz, press spokeswoman for the BnG. The reflux disease is partly abbreviated with its English name: GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
Alcohol and coffee are frequent triggers of reflux disease
There are several reasons why gastric acid rises up the esophagus. For example, a narrowing of the stomach outlet can lead to reflux, as can certain medications. High-fat, acidic or sweet foods are considered irritants and can weaken the sphincter muscle at the stomach entrance just as much as alcohol.
But overweight can also sometimes trigger or promote reflux disease. Whether the pounds are the reason, because they possibly press on the stomach and the esophagus, can be judged however only by weight loss. Even slim people suffer from heartburn and reflux.
Reflux esophagitis: Irritation can lead to inflammation
Due to the constant irritation in the area of the vocal chords and larynx, some suffer from a dumpling feeling: “Neck and voice become hoarse”, explains gastroenterologist Mainz. An inflammation of the esophagus caused by the aggressive gastric juice is also common. Doctors speak of reflux esophagitis. Permanent reflux esophagitis can cause serious damage to the esophagus, including cancer.
Typical symptoms: heartburn, belching and dumpling.
In addition to the typical symptoms such as heartburn, acid burping and difficulty swallowing, pain sometimes occurs in the middle upper abdomen or behind the breastbone. A burning sensation in the throat is also a common complaint. A cough while falling asleep or a stuffy nose can also be an indication of reflux disease.
Heartburn: Causes and symptoms of reflux disease. A woman grabs her neck with a painful distortion.
The burning, painful feeling in the chest area in connection with acid burping is widespread. Every second person in Germany occasionally suffers from heartburn. This is often caused by a reflux of digestive juice from the stomach into the oesophagus, also known as reflux. If the symptoms occur regularly, the diagnosis is usually: reflux disease.
How does the painful reflux into the esophagus occur?
Between the stomach and the esophagus, a sphincter muscle ensures that the food can slide into the stomach but does not come up again. If this valve does not close properly, the acid stomach contents enter the esophagus and cause the painful symptoms there.
Men and women are equally affected
According to the Association of Established Gastroenterologists (BnG), ten to 20 percent of the population suffer from reflux disease. “Men and women of all ages are equally affected by the chronic disease,” explains Dagmar Mainz, press spokeswoman for the BnG. The reflux disease is partly abbreviated with its English name: GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
Reflux esophagitis: Irritation can lead to inflammation
Due to the constant irritation in the area of the vocal chords and larynx, some suffer from a dumpling feeling: “Neck and voice become hoarse”, explains gastroenterologist Mainz. An inflammation of the esophagus caused by the aggressive gastric juice is also common. Doctors speak of reflux esophagitis. Permanent reflux esophagitis can cause serious damage to the esophagus, including cancer.
Typical symptoms: heartburn, belching and dumpling.
In addition to the typical symptoms such as heartburn, acid burping and difficulty swallowing, pain sometimes occurs in the middle upper abdomen or behind the breastbone. A burning sensation in the throat is also a common complaint. A cough while falling asleep or a stuffy nose can also be an indication of reflux disease.
Why the nose can clog up
It is the gastric acid that irritates the mucous membranes: “The flow from the stomach into the oesophagus sometimes leads to fluid flowing from the stomach – which is naturally acidic – into the mouth and throat,” explains the expert. “It can be assumed that the acidic fluid leads to swelling of the mucous membranes.” And in addition to the symptoms already mentioned, this can also lead to coughing or a blocked nose. Read more here – http://diaetcheck.net/blog/ernaehrung-bei-sodbrennen.
