Gastroreflux disease: symptoms, causes, treatment, diet, advice of gastroenterologists

Digestive dysfunction at least once, but occurs in every person. But there are gastrointestinal pathologies that not only cause serious discomfort, but also can harm health. Gastroreflux disease is observed in almost half of the world's population. It must be treated comprehensively, with a change in lifestyle.

general description

Reflux - physiological or pathological reflux of gastric juice into the esophagus. In the first case, it occurs immediately after a heavy meal, but is not accompanied by symptoms, and also is not systemic in nature. The pathological one requires treatment and changes in the diet.

Gastroreflux disease is a chronic pathology characterized by a systematic reflux of stomach acid back into the esophagus, regardless of food intake. At the same time, its walls are irritated, the mucous membrane is damaged and a person feels serious discomfort. Acid is cast through the lower food sphincter. Fight such a pathology almost all my life. However, proper nutrition and an active lifestyle provides long-term remission.

Gastroreflux disease can be both an independent pathology and a symptom. Most often, its cause is an improper lifestyle, errors in nutrition. Patients over 50 years old are at risk.

Causes of occurrence

GERD is a difficult disease. With visible well-being, the influence of a negative factor contributes to exacerbation. The following reasons can provoke gastroreflux disease:

• the use of drinks containing caffeine, as they reduce the tone of the lower esophageal sphincter;
• smoking;
• pregnancy (during this period, the load and pressure on the internal organs increases);
• obesity;
• alcohol abuse;
• diaphragmatic hernia;
• increase in abdominal pressure;
• hasty eating with swallowing a large amount of air;
• stomach ulcer and 12 duodenal ulcer;
• the presence of a large amount of animal fat in the diet;
• violation of gastric emptying;
• Wearing clothes that strongly compresses the stomach;
• swelling in the stomach;
• intensive load on the press;
• increased acidity of gastric juice.

A genetic predisposition to gastrointestinal diseases can provoke the development of pathology. Frequent stresses, low physical activity can aggravate a person’s condition.

Symptoms of pathology

Symptoms of gastroreflux disease are as follows:

1. The feeling of fullness in the chest and esophagus, accompanied by pain in the epigastrium, larynx.
2. Morning or nocturnal cough.
3. Frequent sore throat.
4. Damage to tooth enamel.
5. Heartburn, which becomes stronger when bending, after physical exertion, in a prone position.
6. Belching with a bitter or sour taste.
7. Hiccups.
8. Painful swallowing.
9. Increased salivation.
10. Attacks of nausea and vomiting.
11. Bad breath.
12. Violation of the stool.

Gastroreflux disease in children is manifested by regurgitation, impaired stool, shortness of breath, poor appetite. Often, babies become very moody during feeding.

Disease classification

Symptoms of gastroreflux disease largely depend on its type. There is such a classification of pathology:

• Non-erosive. In this case, there are no manifestations of esophagitis, although reverse reflux of gastric fluid is present.
• Erosive. Here the patient develops ulcers and erosion. The depth of tissue damage can be different.
• Barrett's esophagus. This form of pathology is diagnosed in 60% of all patients. This is the extreme stage of the development of the disease. It is characterized by metaplasia of squamous stratified epithelium. Here esophagitis provokes the development of a precancerous condition.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease can lead to serious complications, so it must be treated comprehensively.

Stages of the development of the disease

The composition of the gastric juice contains hydrochloric acid, which is required for the digestion of protein. This is a very aggressive environment from which the gastric mucosa is well protected. Normally, the juice does not enter the esophagus, so its walls do not need a special barrier. With gastroesophageal reflux pathology, the lower sphincter is not able to retain acid in the stomach. She returns back to the esophagus and damages it.

Symptoms of gastroreflux disease in adults and children also depend on its severity:

1. First one. Serious pathological changes do not occur in the walls of the esophagus. The mucous membrane may turn red; minor erosion may appear on it. The body itself is able to cope with damage, so a person does not feel severe discomfort. With the timely detection of the disease at this stage, the patient has no consequences.
2. The second one. Erosive damage covers up to 20% of the surface of the mucous membrane. In this case, deeper layers are not damaged.
3. The third. The wound surface expands. Erosions become deeper, affect the muscle layer. Symptoms are constant. This stage is characterized by nightly heartburn, and when lying on the right side there is severe pain.
4. Fourth. There are already diagnosed ulcers around the entire esophagus. The lower sphincter also undergoes an erosive process.
5. Fifth. At this stage, scars appear on the entire surface of the mucosa, which can provoke esophageal stenosis. The patient is able to fully take only liquid food. In most cases, at this stage he needs surgery.

At the last stage of gastroesophageal disease, the risk of developing oncology increases, so it is better to consult a doctor when the first symptoms appear.

Pathology diagnostics

Before you begin treatment for gastroreflux disease, you need to undergo a comprehensive examination. The specialist should find out the type and severity of the pathology, the presence of complications. When diagnosing a disease, the following research methods are provided:

• Laboratory blood tests, liver tests.
• Helicobacter test. This pathogenic microorganism contributes to the development of gastritis and stomach ulcers.
• Gastroscopy. Minimally invasive diagnosis, with which the doctor can examine the condition of the walls of the esophagus, assess the degree of damage.
• Measurement of the acidity of gastric juice. It can be single or daily. In the first case, a thin catheter and probe are used, which fixes the reflux of fluid into the esophagus. In the second, a special capsule is required, which comes out with feces.
• Ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs.
• X-ray or scintigraphy with a contrast agent. There is an opportunity to determine a hernia of the diaphragm, a stomach ulcer. These pathologies often cause gastroesophageal symptoms.
• Test with proton pump inhibitors.
• Manomerism of the lower esophageal sphincter (determination of its tone).
• ECG.
• Electrogastrography. It provides for the determination of the electrical activity of the stomach. Electrodes are attached to the patient's skin (as with an electrocardiogram). Diagnostics is carried out a day. Sometimes it is necessary to take stimulants of stomach activity.
• Biopsy of damaged tissue. It is necessary for suspected Barrett's esophagus or cancer.

To determine gastroesophageal reflux with esophagitis, you will have to turn not only to a gastroenterologist, but also to other specialists: a cardiologist, a therapist.

Traditional therapy

There is no specific treatment for gastroreflux disease. Therapy is aimed at eliminating the symptoms, as well as preventing complications and relapses. The basis of treatment is medicines:

1. Blockers of H2-histamine receptors: "Cimetidine", "Famotodine", "Nizatidine". These drugs reduce the amount of hydrochloric acid produced, reducing the aggressiveness of gastric juice.
2. Proton pump inhibitors: Omeprozole, Lansoprozole. Such drugs reduce the amount of hydrochloric acid in the gastric juice. When prescribing these drugs, the doctor must take into account some nuances: for example, Omeprozole is contraindicated in expectant mothers.
3. Prokinetics: Domperidone (an antiemetic that can lead to an upset of the digestive tract), Cisapride (this drug improves gastrointestinal motility).
4. Antacids: "Gaviscon", "Phosphalugel". Such drugs reduce the acidity of gastric juice, protect the mucosa from its negative effects. However, they are also able to reduce the absorption of other drugs. They should be taken with caution to people who have unstable blood pressure. And some experts consider antacids not the most reliable protective means.

Medications can only eliminate the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux. To consolidate the effect, it is necessary to do special exercises. They strengthen the muscles of the diaphragm and esophagus, prevent pathological reflux of gastric fluid.

If treatment of the symptoms of gastroreflux disease with medications has not given an effect, then the patient is prescribed surgery. Other indications to him are as follows:

• rapid progression of the disease;
• the presence of complications on other internal organs (heart, lungs);
• ulcer;
• malignant tumor.

We can distinguish the following types of surgical interventions:

1. Endoscopic plication. It is often used for bleeding. Using this equipment, you can also take tissue fragments for biopsy.
2. Radiofrequency ablation of the esophagus.
3. Fundoplication using laparoscopic equipment. Here, the stomach is hemmed around the esophagus to the diaphragm.
4. Removing part of the esophagus that has undergone stenosis. Next, the affected area is replaced by a fragment of the intestine.

Surgery is an extreme measure that does not always give a positive effect. In addition, complications often develop after it. Treatment of this pathology should be comprehensive and requires careful attention of the patient to their own health.

Alternative treatment

Treatment of gastroreflux disease with folk remedies is carried out not only in the early stages of the development of pathology, but also to combat its neglected form. But it is important to remember that alternative medicine is only an auxiliary method. Before using it, you must consult your doctor. Such recipes will be useful:

• Raw potatoes. To eliminate the symptoms, it is enough to chew a small piece of vegetable three times a day. You can also apply freshly squeezed potato juice. It should be consumed three times a day for half an hour before meals. You will have to drink juice for a long time.
• Milk. It is able to eliminate the manifestations of heartburn and envelops the mucous membrane, preventing its damage by gastric juice.
• Celery. For treatment, juice from the root of the plant will be required. It is necessary to use it for 1 tbsp. l three times a day.
• Sea buckthorn oil. It has wound healing, regenerative, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects. It is necessary to drink it for 1 tsp. per day. Rosehip oil has the same effect.
• Althea root. A decoction is prepared from it. This requires 6 g of raw materials and 200 ml of boiled water. The mixture must be boiled in a water bath for half an hour. After that, the liquid is filtered and consumed 100 ml three times a day.
• Picking herbs. Requires 2 tbsp. l plantain, 1 tbsp. l St. John's wort and 0.5 liters of boiling water. Pour herbs in an enameled bowl. Tea is infused for 30 minutes. An infusion is used in the morning, 0.5 cups before meals.
• Picking herbs. Fill 50 g of chamomile and yarrow herbs in a teapot, pour 0.5 l of boiling water. Insisting takes 10 minutes. You need to drink such tea three times a day.
• Flax seeds. Requires 2 tbsp. l dry raw materials and ½ liter of boiling water. It is better to do the remedy at night, as it should be infused for 8 hours. The filtered liquid should be taken 100 ml before meals. The duration of the therapeutic course is 6 weeks.
• Birch bark. It needs to be crushed into powder and taken in 0.5 tsp. everyday. It should be washed down with a significant amount of water or weak tea.
• Severe heartburn helps overcome pumpkin seeds. You need to eat a small handful.
• Picking herbs. It takes 1 liter of water, 1 tbsp. l chopped aloe leaves, 2 tbsp. l grape leaves, 1 tbsp. l elecampane root, 4 tbsp. l Hypericum flowers. Boil the mixture for 15-20 minutes on low heat. Insisting takes 30 minutes. Use the drug three times a day before meals (half an hour). For treatment, you can use pure aloe juice. It is taken in a few drops, diluted in 1 tbsp. l water.
• Raw almonds. It helps to reduce the intensity of symptoms and heartburn. Walnut has an enveloping and analgesic effect, eliminates spasm. Replace the product with almond oil.
• Red onion. The head of the vegetable should be crushed to a pulp state, mixed with 1 tbsp. l granulated sugar and let it brew for 10 min. The drug is used before and after a meal. The duration of the therapeutic course is 2 months.
• Apple vinegar. It can be 1-2 tsp. add to tea instead of lemon, and also dilute with water.
• Propolis tincture.

When using folk recipes, it is not recommended to take alcohol-based tinctures. They are able to aggravate a sick state of a person. Before using herbs, it is also advisable to make sure that the patient is not allergic to them. This is especially true for bee products. Sometimes the compositions are allowed to combine.

Nutrition rules

In the presence of gastroreflux disease, diet plays a major role in preventing relapse. It is based on the following principles:

• exclusion from the diet of fatty, spicy and fried foods, as well as canned goods, pastry;
• quitting smoking and drinking alcohol, sweet soda;
• you can’t drink coffee or strong black tea on an empty stomach, since these drinks worsen the functionality of the lower esophageal sphincter, reducing its tone;
• fruit juices, onions and garlic, tomatoes, chocolate are excluded from the menu;
• fermented milk products, cereals, yesterday’s bread, low-fat fish, vegetable soups should be present in the diet.

Meals should be fractional and regular. A diet must be observed not only during therapy, but also during remission.

Possible complications and disease prevention

If gastroreflux pathology is not treated, over time it will give complications:

1. Substitution of the flat esophageal epithelium with a cylindrical. This indicates the development of a precancerous condition. In this case, the intensity of symptoms decreases, because the surface of the esophagus becomes less sensitive. The patient begins to think about improving the condition, because the signs are pronounced. This is the main danger of this complication.
2. Frequent bleeding caused by deep tissue damage.
3. Narrowing the esophagus in children or adults. In this case, partial or complete obstruction of the food develops. This condition requires immediate surgical intervention.
4. Increased risk of respiratory and heart pathologies.
5. Scars on the mucous membrane. They not only cause discomfort, but also hinder the free passage of food.

Not all of these complications can be quickly eliminated. Some of them can be fatal.

This disease does not allow the patient to lead a familiar lifestyle, therefore it is better not to allow its development or manifestations of relapse. To do this, observe the following preventive measures:

• Stop smoking and drinking alcohol. And do not smoke and drink alcohol even after the symptoms go away. This will lead to relapse.
• Follow the principles of proper and balanced nutrition, excluding harmful products from the menu.
• Try to eat only warm food. Too hot or cold dishes can damage the lining of the esophagus and cause exacerbation.
• Avoid prolonged bent work.
• Do not lift weights (more than 10 kg), and also eliminate the intense load on the abdominal muscles.
• Sleep only with raised headboards.
• Normalize body weight.
• Do not go to bed immediately after dinner. After the meal, 2-3 hours should pass.
• It is not recommended to be treated with soda. If at first it helps, then then its use gives the opposite effect.
• In the morning you need to drink a glass of warm water with lemon. It is better to do this 15-20 minutes before breakfast.

Gastroreflux disease of the stomach can occur in absolutely any person, regardless of age or gender. However, it can be avoided if you follow the rules of an active life and the advice of specialists.