- What is Reflux Disease?
- What are the Symptoms of Reflux Disease?
- What Causes Reflux?
- How Is Reflux Treated?
- Reflux Disease in Infant and Childhood
- What is the Difference Between Gastritis and Reflux?
- What Is Good For Reflux?
- Reflux during pregnancy
- How Does Reflux Cough Pass?
- Does reflux cause heart palpitations?
What is Reflux Disease?
as everyone knows reflux The disease is the backflow of food contents into the esophagus. It is a bitter taste that comes to the mouth. It is more common than you think. It can be seen in everyone from newborn to elderly people. Our stomach is constantly secreting acid. This acid secretion increases after meals and thus contributes to stomach digestion. In other words, there is always an acidic content in the stomach. Although this acid is very strong, it does not harm the stomach under normal conditions as it has protective mechanisms of the stomach. However, the esophagus does not have acid-protective mechanisms. The only thing that protects the esophagus is the system (Lower Esophageal Sphincter) that prevents acidic stomach contents from escaping into the esophagus and acts as a functional valve at the junction of the esophagus and stomach. Under normal conditions, a small amount of escape occurs and does not cause damage. However, if this functional valve system does not function properly, the acidic contents of the stomach escape excessively into the defenseless esophagus and cause acid-related damage there. This damage causes complaints.
What are the Symptoms of Reflux Disease?
- Heartburn – burning
- burning in chest
- Return of the eaten food to the mouth
- weight loss
- Bitter-sour water in the mouth
- Bad breath
- Bloating-burping
- chronic pharyngitis
- chronic sinusitis
- hoarseness, sore throat,
- dry cough,
- A feeling of obsession in the throat,
What Causes Reflux?
- The most important reason is to eat large amounts of food at one time.
- Nicotine (cigarette etc.)
- Fried or fatty foods
- Caffeine (coffee, tea, cola, chocolate)
- Acidic fruits and juices
- Mint and mint foods
- Alcohol
- Pregnancy
How Is Reflux Treated?
one-lifestyle changes;
- Paying attention to eating your meals in smaller quantities and more frequently.
- Avoid oily, heavy tomato paste, vinegar, creamy, fried foods, chocolate, mint, spicy foods and acidic beverages,
- Getting rid of excess weight
- Not smoking and alcohol use,
- Very hot food and drink can cause esophageal damage.
- Avoiding lying down and exercising for at least 2-3 hours after meals,
- Not using belts, corsets and tight clothes that tighten your waist,
- Raising the head of your bed 15-20 cm,
2- RefluxMedication ;
Drugs that Neutralize Stomach Acid: Some drugs have an immediate effect on complaints. However, these drugs cannot heal the inflamed esophagus. Excessive use of these drugs can cause side effects such as diarrhea or constipation.
H-2 Receptor Blockers: These are drugs that reduce stomach acid production. The effect of H-2 blockers does not start as quickly as antacids, but they reduce stomach acid by 70% for a longer period of time, about 12 hours.
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI): PPIs such as omeprazole, esomeprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole are stronger than H-2 blockers and allow the damage to the esophagus to heal. Long-term use of these drugs causes B-12 deficiency.
3- RefluxSurgical Treatment: 80% of the patients are cured thanks to these measures and treatments. reflux is declining. Surgery is recommended for people who do not respond to lifestyle changes and medical treatment, and to patients with structural pathologies such as gastric hernia in the examinations. Today, the widely applied technique is laparoscopic, Nissen Fundoplication surgery. In this surgery, the loose valve structure at the junction of the esophagus and the stomach is supported by the stomach, with 4 or 5 holes opened from the abdomen. The biggest advantage of the surgery is that it is performed by the laparoscopic method, and it provides a quicker return to normal life compared to open surgeries. After surgery reflux Temporary swallowing difficulties may be seen with regression in complaints. laparoscopic refluxsurgery is a technique that is used safely and all over the world.
Reflux Disease in Infant and Childhood
Commonly known as adult disease refluxThe disease is common in children and even infants. Reflux, It is defined as the leakage of stomach contents into the esophagus due to the loose valve between the stomach and the esophagus. Recently, in children and infants refluxThere is an increase in the incidence of the disease, which significantly reduces the quality of life of children and parents.
Reflux disease in infants especially in the first 6 months. The valve in question develops with the growth of the child and goes away after a while. Reflux-related complaints vary in infants and children.
- Nausea, vomiting, weight loss are seen in infants,
- In children, burning in the chest, hoarseness and slowing of development can be seen. Since this situation is confused with some ailments, unnecessary use of antibiotics occurs.
A good diagnosis of the disease is of great importance. Therefore, it is important to take a detailed history with a detailed examination. reflux disease As a result of misdiagnosis and treatment, it can cause inflammation in the esophagus, dental caries, anemia, growth retardation, and narrowing of the esophagus. Apart from this, the diseases accompanying reflux disease are hoarseness, pharyngitis, laryngitis, sinusitis, otitis, recurrent cough, regrowth of adenoid despite surgery, bad breath, inability to sleep comfortably, waking up frequently at night, recurrent pneumonia. Here the family needs to be careful.
How should nutrition be in reflux seen in infants and children?
- Feeding infants at night and just before bedtime reflux can increase. Babies should be put to bed 2 hours after feeding. Reflux The head of babies diagnosed with the disease should be raised 30 degrees while lying down, and they should be laid especially on the left side. It should also be fed little by little and at frequent intervals. Apart from this, the use of pacifiers in infants increases saliva secretion and regulates bowel movements. This too can reduce reflux.
- in children reflux Sugary foods, chocolate, chips, ketchup, bitter, mint, onion, garlic, acidic drinks should be avoided because these foods increase. In addition, meals should be small and often spaced. It should be taken at least 1-2 hours after meals. Again, in order to avoid situations such as constipation and obesity that will increase intra-abdominal pressure, a healthy diet should be followed and a nutrition program should be applied in which fiber-rich foods are preferred. Apart from these, the drug treatment given by the doctor should be used regularly and the controls should be visited regularly.
What is the Difference Between Gastritis and Reflux?
Refluxand Gastritis often confused with each other. However, these are separate disorders, and sometimes, both of these diseases can be encountered in a person. Gastritis is the inflammation of the tissue that we call the mucous membrane lining the inner surface of the stomach, which occurs as a result of the increase in stomach acidity and the decrease in the factors that protect the stomach from acid. RefluxOn the other hand, it is the pathological reflux of stomach contents (acid) from the stomach to the esophagus (esophagus).
Gastritis Symptoms include stomach pain, heartburn, nausea or vomiting, loss of appetite and indigestion. Reflux symptoms are as we mentioned above.
GastritisAlthough it can be seen at any age, it usually occurs in adults. Acuteso suddenly and chronici.e. slowly developing over a long period of time gastritisis divided into 2.
- Alcohol, aspirin, pain medications, and stress often acute gastritiswhile leading to the table;
- Bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, which lives in the inner wall of the stomach and is transmitted from contaminated water, which is usually drunk in childhood. chronic gastritisis the most important reason.
Today, it can cause gastritis, bile reflux and some infections, which are the problems of many people. In untreated cases of chronic gastritis, various tissue changes may occur in the inner wall of the stomach.
Although the symptoms of gastritis differ from patient to patient, they are usually complaints such as heartburn, pain, nausea, vomiting, bloating, belching, early satiety, loss of appetite and disgust with food. It is recommended that patients with such complaints should consult a gastroenterology specialist.
The most important treatment of gastritis consists of lifestyle changes, dietary recommendations and medication. The lifestyle and diet recommendations that these patients should follow; not eating fast food, chewing food well, not using cigarettes and alcohol, avoiding fried foods, excessive fatty meals and spicy foods, avoiding processed foods such as sausage/salami/sausage, avoiding extremely hot and cold foods and carbonated drinks, replacing carbonated drinks to consume water, to be fed with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits. Drug treatment of gastritis should be planned by the gastroenterologist for the cause of gastritis.
What Is Good For Reflux?
Reflux treatment The most important point is to make changes in lifestyle. While many people can control reflux with lifestyle changes or medications, some patients require surgical intervention. Reflux treatment The first stage is usually done with drugs that suppress stomach acid and changes in lifestyle. Obesity increases intra-abdominal pressure and exacerbates reflux with pressure on the stomach. That’s why the patient; should lose their excess weight, quit smoking, not wear tight clothes, stay away from fatty meals or fried foods, tomato paste, alcohol, chocolate, spices, especially mint, raw onions and garlic, and coffee.
Since each person’s sensitivity is different, the patient should stay away from the trigger food that he/she notices. reflux dietis the best option for Reflux dieteating small bites during and not sleeping immediately after eating “What is good for reflux” is also the answer to the question. At least 3 hours should pass after a meal before lying down or sleeping. Do not eat or drink anything for the last two hours before going to bed. In addition to the reflux diet, the fact that the upper part of the waist is higher while sleeping can prevent the occurrence of reflux thanks to gravity. r. Especially those who have night reflux should pay attention to this. High pillows placed under the head reflux benefit is ok. Beds set high from the waist refluxit might sound good.
Reflux during pregnancy
Reflux in pregnancy It is one of the most common ailments. The female reproductive hormones progesterone and estrogen have the effect of lowering the pressure of the gastric valve. Hormonal changes and increased progesterone hormone, especially during pregnancy, reflux In the advanced stages of pregnancy, the increase in intra-abdominal pressure with the enlargement of the uterus and its pressure on the stomach also increase the complaints of reflux. Reflux, which was not seen before pregnancy but started to appear with pregnancy, often disappears spontaneously with the conclusion of pregnancy.
The effect of reflux in pregnancyPaying attention to what you eat to reduce it can relax you.
- A suitable diet program should be chosen in order not to gain as much weight as possible.
- Avoid chocolate, mint, spicy foods, fried foods
- Caffeinated drinks (coffee, tea, acidic drinks) should not be drunk
- Meals should be eaten slowly and chewed well. Avoid fluid intake with meals
- Small amounts of food should be eaten at frequent intervals and no food should be consumed at least 2 hours before bedtime.
- Tomatoes and citrus fruits should be consumed as little as possible.
How Does Reflux Cough Pass?
There are no other reasons behind the cough, and only reflux-related cough can improve within 2 weeks with stomach protectors taken in the morning and evening. In addition to not consuming cigarettes and alcohol, foods that cause reflux should be avoided.
Does reflux cause heart palpitations?
Reflux is not usually a direct cause of heart palpitations. For example, if a person with reflux feels nervous or anxious about their symptoms, this can lead to palpitations. both refluxas well as heart palpitations There may be various triggering factors. For example, alcohol consumption can cause palpitations in some people and can also trigger reflux symptoms. Similarly, too much caffeine can trigger reflux symptoms, and caffeine can also cause heart palpitations.
