Gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) develops when there is a retrograde flow of stomach contents back into the oesophagus. This chronic gastrointestinal disorder typically manifests with the symptom of heartburn.
Gastrointestinal reflux disease, or GERD, is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder that is more than just heartburn. It can present as non-erosive reflux disease or erosive oesophagitis. If left untreated, GERD can develop into serious problems like cancer in some cases. To learn more about this condition, seek assistance from the best gastroenterologist in Kolkata at Apollo Gleneagles Hospital Kolkata. Also, read ahead to know about GERD symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment options.
More About GERD
GERD happens when the one-way valve between the oesophagus and the stomach is weakened. This condition allows food, acid and bile to reflux into the oesophagus. Notably, this reflux causes inflammation and irritation. Though less common, gastroesophageal reflux disease is more troublesome than periodic acid reflux.
Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Gastrointestinal reflux disease can cause the following symptoms:
- Asthma
- Belching
- Bloating
- Chest pain
- Chronic cough
- Difficulty swallowing
- Early satiety
- Excess saliva
- Feeling of a lump in the throat
- Heartburn
- Hoarseness
- Lung aspiration
- Nausea
- Regurgitation
- Shortness of breath
- Voice problems
- Wheezing
Notably, people with cystic fibrosis (an inherited lung disease) are more likely to experience GERD symptoms than the average person.
Causes of GERD
GERD is caused by various mechanisms that can be intrinsic, structural, or both, leading to the disruption of the esophagogastric junction barrier. When the one-way valve, called a lower oesophagal sphincter (LES), is weakened and not functioning properly, gastric juices come up from the stomach and flow back up into the oesophagus. This leads to irritation and inflammation (oesophagitis), damaging the lining of the oesophagus over time.
Nearly half of GERD patients develop oesophagitis. And, between 10% and 15% of patients with GERD may develop Barrett’s oesophagus. Gastrointestinal reflux disease can lead to more serious conditions if not diagnosed and treated properly. An individual should have his/her oesophagus checked for changes if he/she has experienced GERD for some years.
How to Diagnose Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease?
Proper diagnosis plays a crucial role in effective treatment. Considering their unique symptoms, GERD patients may turn to different specialists, such as gastroenterologists, otolaryngologists, cardiologists or pulmonologists. They may recommend some or all of the following tests:
- Ambulatory Impedance-pH Monitoring: It measures the frequency and amount of gastric content that refluxes from the stomach to the oesophagus, usually over a period of 24 hours. This test involves threading a thin tube (catheter), with an attached monitoring system, through the nose and down the oesophagus.
- Endoscopy: A thin, flexible tube featuring a tiny camera and light is inserted through the mouth and the throat. This allows doctors to see inside the throat and into the stomach.
- Oesophageal Motility Testing: Advanced technology is used to evaluate how well the muscles of the oesophagus are functioning. Specifically, it provides information about the function of the valve located between the oesophagus and the stomach, as well as the ability of the oesophageal muscles to squeeze.
- X-ray: It helps find out if there is a hiatal hernia or a stricture of the oesophagus.
Management and Treatment of GERD
In most cases, GERD patients live with the condition for the rest of their lives. While the only curative treatment is surgery, medications and lifestyle changes can help manage the symptoms effectively.
Lifestyle Changes
For most patients, treatment recommendations follow a stepped approach that includes:
- Changes in diet
- Avoiding food close to bedtime
- Losing weight
- Limiting smoking and alcohol use
Medicines
It is to be noted that when lifestyle changes do not work, medications are recommended to suppress the production of excess acid. For many individuals with mild to moderate symptoms, antacids or histamine H2 receptor agonist therapy can be effective. For more persistent symptoms, additional H2 blocker therapy or proton pump inhibitor medications may be prescribed.
However, medications are less effective when a large hiatal hernia, regurgitation, aspiration, cough and/or voice problems are present.
Surgical Treatment
Many GERD patients may be appropriate candidates for surgical treatment with an anti-reflux procedure that tightens the lower oesophagal sphincter, preventing the stomach contents and acid from refluxing back into the oesophagus. Also, anti-reflux surgery can stop GERD symptoms, such as regurgitation, trouble swallowing and voice changes.
To sum up, gastrointestinal reflux disease is characterised by the regurgitation of gastric contents into the oesophagus, leading to heartburn. While there’s no cure for GERD, lifestyle modifications and proton pump inhibitors can help in the effective management of symptoms associated with this gastrointestinal disorder.
For further guidance, you can connect with the best gastroenterologist in Kolkata at Apollo Gleneagles Hospital Kolkata.
