Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Causes, Symptoms, and Effective Treatments

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) causes heartburn and a burning sensation in the chest. Let's explore the causes, symptoms, and effective treatments at home or as prescribed by a doctor!

1. What is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)?

Trào ngược dạ dày thực quản là bệnh lý xảy ra khi axit dạ dày thường xuyên trào ngược lên thực quản (ống nối từ miệng đến dạ dày). Ở người bình thường, cơ thắt thực quản dưới đóng lại sau khi thức ăn xuống dạ dày. Nếu cơ này yếu hoặc giãn bất thường, axit sẽ trào lên, gây tổn thương niêm mạc thực quản, dẫn đến viêm và các triệu chứng khó chịu.

5 Causes of Acid Reflux We Should Know:

🍟 Ăn uống thiếu khoa học: Đồ chiên rán, thức ăn chua cay nóng, ăn khuya.

🍷 Uống rượu bia, cà phê: Làm giãn cơ thắt thực quản.

🚬 Hút thuốc lá: Tăng tiết axit dạ dày.

🧘 Căng thẳng kéo dài: Kích thích dạ dày sản xuất axit.

🤰 Mang thai/béo phì: Áp lực ổ bụng đẩy axit lên thực quản.

2. Signs and Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease – How Many Symptoms Are You Experiencing?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) typically causes the following symptoms:

• Heartburn, acid reflux: Burning sensation from the chest spreading to the neck, worsening when lying down or after eating.
• Acid reflux: Sour/bitter taste in the mouth, belching, heartburn.
• Epigastric pain: pain above the navel
• Difficulty swallowing, feeling: like there's something stuck in the throat
• Insomnia: Discomfort and coughing at night due to reflux while sleeping.
• Bad breath: Acid reflux causes an unpleasant odor.

3. Who is susceptible to acid reflux? Risk factors to be aware of!

• Người thừa cân, béo phì, ít vận động.
• Unhealthy lifestyles and eating habits include consuming alcohol, coffee, tea, eating too many sour foods, eating too much fatty food, lack of exercise, lying down immediately after eating, etc.
• Smoking cigarettes or passive smoking from tobacco smoke.
• Người làm việc căng thẳng, thức khuya triền miên.
• Phụ nữ mang thai (từ tháng thứ 4 trở đi).
• Diaphragmatic hernia: A bulge in the upper part of the stomach that protrudes above the diaphragm.
• People with a history of conditions such as scleroderma, delayed gastric emptying, etc.

4. When should I see a doctor?

• You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience upper abdominal pain, chest pain, especially if accompanied by shortness of breath that could be mistaken for symptoms of cardiovascular disease – these could be symptoms of a heart attack.
• There are severe or frequent symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease that affect daily life.
• I have to take medication for gastroesophageal reflux disease at least twice a week and it doesn't help.

5. Treating Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Expert Solutions

5.1. Home treatment, without medication.

• Adjust your diet:

– Limit certain foods: spicy foods, sour foods, hot foods, stimulants (tea, coffee, alcohol, etc.), carbonated drinks, chocolate, mint, onions, garlic, etc.

– Ăn vừa phải: Không ăn quá no, không để quá đói.

– Eat on time: Avoid eating too late and lying down immediately after eating. The last meal of the day should be finished at least 3 hours before bedtime.

– Eat slowly and chew thoroughly: This reduces digestive pressure and prevents swallowing air.

• Lifestyle changes:

– Elevate your head while sleeping: Elevate your head with a pillow 10–15 cm high or use an anti-reflux pillow to prevent acid reflux at night. 

– Sleeping on your left side: Keeps your stomach lower than your esophagus, reducing reflux.

– Weight loss: Being overweight increases abdominal pressure, easily causing reflux. Regular exercise helps with weight loss and sweating. Aim for 30 minutes to 2 hours per day, at least 5 days a week.

- Quit smoking

– Avoid bending over after eating: Limit exercise or strenuous work immediately after meals.

– Avoid anxiety and stress, avoid staying up late: Practice yoga, meditation, and deep breathing to reduce stress, which can worsen symptoms.

5.2. Treatment with medication

• Thuốc giảm tiết axit: Esomeprazole, Pantoprazole, … (uống trước ăn 30 phút).
• Alginate: Forming a "barrier" of alginate can help block acid reflux and prevent post-meal acid reflux.
•  Thuốc trung hòa axit: Phosphalugel, Gastropulgite, ….

5.3. Endoscopic or surgical intervention

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that does not respond to medication or lifestyle changes may require endoscopic intervention (esophageal sphincterotomy with LINX silicone rings, esophageal sphincter thickening injections, microscarring of the sphincter to tighten the muscle, Stretta Procedure, etc.) or surgery (Nissen fundoplication, etc.).

Conclude:
Whichever method you choose, combine them healthy lifestyle and adjustments chế độ ăn để tối ưu hiệu quả điều trị. Đừng ngần ngại CONTACT A DOCTOR if symptoms don't improve! Share this article to help your loved ones prevent the disease!

References

1. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). MedlinePlus. Updated May 6, 2024. Accessed June 15, 2024. https://medlineplus.gov/gerd.html

 

#TràoNgượcDạDày #GERD #ỢHơi #ỢChua #SứcKhỏeTiêuHóa
#ĐauThượngVị #HôiMiệng #BéoPhì #MangThai #HútThuốcLá #CăngThẳng
#ĐiềuTrịTạiNhà #ĂnUốngLànhMạnh#ThuốcTràoNgược #PhẫuThuậtNộiSoi #PhòngNgừaGERD