Acid Reflux Treatment

The “heartburn” are so familiar that sometimes we do not repair their importance and transcendence. But when heartburn or burning sensation in the chest or throat becomes recurrent and annoying, it is necessary to abandon the common antacid and visit a gastroenterologist for a timely and accurate diagnosis.

To learn more about gastroesophageal reflux lets we talked with Dr. Edgardo Suárez Morán, Mocel Hospital gastroenterologist.

Gastroesophageal reflux is one of the most frequent diseases of the esophagus, with a prevalence of up to 40% in Mexican adults. Although it generates one of the highest rates of self-medication in many cases may go unnoticed even by doctors, but its extreme consequences can become cancer.

What is gastroesophageal reflux?
It is one of the most common diseases, if not the most common digestive tract. It occupies about 30 or 40 percent of all diseases, and in some countries is resulting in “indiscriminate self-medication.”

How does it manifest?
There are two types of manifestations: typical and atypical.
Among the typical symptoms are heartburn or heartburn, which is a stinging or burning sensation in the chest, halitosis (bad breath), belching or regurgitation, which is returning semitriturado or prepackaged food.
Atypical pose a risk to go unnoticed. Those who presented with chronic ENT illnesses such as laryngitis, sinusitis, chest pain of coronary origin, to swallow with a pain similar to angina or heart attack, you may have GERD.

The esophagus is the great victim of reflux … Why?
In principle, the stomach is accustomed to the acidity, and pH levels handled under 4, which are very acidic. It also handles bile, which has an impressive ability to burn. When all this passes down the esophagus, which is not used to it, it hurts. You can get to ulcerate or change the constitution of the fabric (known as Barrett’s metaplasia), a disease that is associated with esophageal cancer.

How bad can be and how consistent is their presence in the Mexican population?
In principle it is considered a disease because it modifies the individual’s life completely. Although Mexico did not have specific figures, I think the percentage is similar to the United States, between 30 and 40% frequency.

Is there an age that is most recurrence?
In adults it is common in people 70 years or more, because the esophageal valve (the muscle that holds the food flow in one direction, esophagus and stomach), he has no muscle tone.
Among the young may be due to emotional problems that cause anorexia or bulimia.

What are the most common causes of GERD?
The main one is the attack on the valve, because feeding or mechanical changes, which eventually acts as a door ajar.
Other causes are hypertrophy of the pylorus, ulcers or an inflammatory process that causes the stomach acid pond and back into the esophagus.
Reflux may be present during pregnancy, it is because around the twentieth week, the growth of the uterus “pushes” up the stomach thereby facilitating reflux usually gynecologist can treat it, unless it is a case difficult.
Other causes may be ill-focused exercises, such as the abdominal muscles that are involved in the upper abdomen.
A particular case is a hiatal hernia, an anatomical defect that promotes reflux.

What should you do if you have heartburn?
Given the classic symptoms is to limit food irritants, follow a diet and sleep with the bed elevated about 20 cm (at head height) to prevent reflux into the lungs and there is a risk of broncho-aspiration.

How much can be reduced by taking such measures?
For those who have classic reflux, which can reduce up to 50%. But we need the drug to block production of acid. It is important to note, however, that the abuse can have serious consequences. If within four to six weeks the patient does not feel better or feel it, but getting sick again as the drug leaves, it’s time to assist with the gastroenterologist.

What type of tests is based specialist for diagnosis?
The ideal study to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux is the pH-metry (pH measurement), which is monitoring the amount of acid or bile into the esophagus in 24 hours. Measure how many reflux events, more than five minutes, the patient presents. If more than three were considered pathologic reflux.
Other studies are less precise endoscopy, (its efficiency is up 70%) and the radiographic study that practically no longer used for this type of diagnosis.

What is the Ph-metry?
Remove the medication you are taking the patient for a week, not to influence the outcome. You are given a few drops of local anesthetic and intubated with vinyl catheters carrying 35 mm sensors, and using a computer program is collected from reflux and determine whether it is physiological or pathological.

What is medical treatment for reflux?
It’s simple, is to follow a diet without tomato, fats, legumes, among other foods, a position that elevates the head and part of the chest. Individuals with atypical symptoms, care between 6-8 weeks or longer, if necessary. Each person will respond differently to treatment but, like it or not, after some time the drugs have side effects also can be very expensive.

What happens when the drug is abused?
In a span of two or three years can cause stones in the kidney (kidney stones), increase the growth of the mammary gland in men or stimulate milk production, and in some cases, decreased libido, among others .

Are there other treatment options?
Yes, in some cases surgery is necessary, in my opinion is the best. Is to change the architecture of the valve, making it more relevant, up the bottom of the stomach.

How can we prevent gastroesophageal reflux?
The first is to prevent the snuff, because smokers have recurrent reflux, eating well and avoiding irritants and not go to bed after dinner to avoid heavy or large ingestions.

What treatments are not recommended?
Not be recommended home remedies like baking soda, milk, yogurt, salt tablets antacid or grapes, which are very archaic remedies. You should consult your doctor and know the great medicines that are available today, especially designed to reduce the acidity.

Tags: esophageal cancer, Gastroesophageal reflux, Gastroesophageal Reflux in Adults, Heartburn, Stomach,