Gastroesophageal reflux, need to know how to prevent dangerous complications

Gastroesophageal reflux is a very common disease, the rate of disease detection is increasing, if not treated completely, the disease will progress quickly, last long, leading to many dangerous complications, need to know how to prevent.

Dr. Duong Trong Hien is examining and consulting a patient - Photo: BVCC

Gastroesophageal reflux can cause esophageal stricture.

Doctor Tran Anh Tuan, Hung Viet Oncology Hospital, said the stomach always contains acid, even when fasting.

Acid reflux, or heartburn, is a painful, burning sensation that occurs when acid moves from the stomach into the esophagus. Some people with acid reflux have a weak valve connecting the esophagus and stomach. This allows liquids containing digestive acids and enzymes to leak back into the esophagus.

Prolonged exposure to these fluids can irritate the lining of the esophagus, causing a burning sensation similar to heartburn. Severe reflux causes acid or stomach contents to spill into the lungs, which can lead to coughing, asthma, pneumonia, etc.

Dr. Duong Trong Hien, head of the Department of Emergency Gastroenterology Surgery, Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, said that gastroesophageal reflux is a very common disease, the rate of detection is increasing, if not treated completely, the disease will progress quickly, prolong, leading to many dangerous complications.

- Esophageal ulcers and bleeding : Gastric juice refluxing into the esophagus often damages the esophageal mucosa, causing ulcers.

Can cause patients to experience symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, painful swallowing, chest pain. In particular, pain behind the sternum when eating and drinking, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite.

- Respiratory tract inflammation: When stomach products reflux into the esophagus into the respiratory tract, it causes pharyngitis, sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, prolonged cough leading to chronic asthma and other respiratory diseases.

Patients have persistent cough and wheezing that does not respond or responds poorly to conventional treatments. Some have hoarseness due to thickening of the vocal cords in the throat. In addition, people with reflux disease may have tooth erosion, ear infections, thyroiditis, etc.

- Barrett's esophagus (precancerous esophagus) : This is a condition in which the cells lining the lower esophagus change color due to repeated exposure to stomach acid. Only a small percentage of people with GERD develop Barrett's esophagus.

- Esophageal cancer: Gastroesophageal reflux leading to Barrett's esophagus and causing esophageal cancer is a rare, serious complication.

Common symptoms include dysphagia, regurgitation, pain behind the sternum, persistent pain, hoarseness, persistent cough, chest pain, and prominent infection syndrome. Sometimes enlarged lymph nodes can be felt in the left supraclavicular fossa or both sides.

After a period of illness, the patient's whole body becomes thin, within 1 month he can lose more than 5kg due to difficulty swallowing, malnutrition, dark, dry skin, prominent wrinkles, the face and hands have many prominent and noticeable wrinkles.

"Gastroesophageal reflux will cause dangerous complications, so it is necessary to have a periodic gastroesophageal endoscopy, or a gastroesophageal endoscopy when one of the above signs appears. When the disease is detected, it needs to be treated early and thoroughly. The sooner the treatment is, the more effective it is and the less likely the patient will have complications," Dr. Hien emphasized.

Esophageal endoscopy for patients at K Hospital - Photo: BVCC

Change your lifestyle for good sleep

Dr. Tran Anh Tuan said reflux symptoms can increase during sleep. The cause may be eating too late, close to bedtime.

In a lying position, gravity makes it easier for stomach contents to flow back up into the esophagus. Diet and food intake can also be triggers.

Some lifestyle changes can help people with reflux reduce reflux and maintain better sleep at night:

- Avoid eating late at night: People with this condition should not eat dinner too late or go to bed right after eating, stand or walk gently for at least 3-4 hours after a meal or light supper. Eating several small meals throughout the day instead of one large meal in the evening can also help.

- Sleep on your left side: This position helps relieve heartburn symptoms at night. It also allows gravity to promote the movement of waste through the large intestine more smoothly. Place a pillow between your knees to stabilize your spine and avoid pain.

- Keep your head elevated when sleeping: To prevent acid from being pushed up into the esophagus while lying down, the simplest way is to raise your pillow while sleeping. Raise your pillow by about 10-15cm, use a specialized pillow or place several thin pillows underneath for comfort.

- Consider medication: Some over-the-counter pain relievers may help. People who are taking certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should also talk to their doctor if acid reflux is getting worse.

- Control food intake: In addition to eating smaller meals, avoid foods that may cause reflux problems close to bedtime. These include alcohol, caffeinated or carbonated drinks, and high-acid fruits or vegetables such as pineapple, oranges, lemons, and tomatoes.

- Other lifestyle changes: Obese people and smokers are also at high risk of acid reflux. Therefore, to reduce symptoms, patients need to quit smoking, lose weight by exercising and eating healthy.

Acid reflux that can have a long-term impact on sleep also needs to be checked out early. Waking up repeatedly at night due to heartburn can also be a sign of a more serious health problem. If left untreated, this condition can lead to ulcers, scarring, and eventually esophageal cancer.

Treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease requires lifestyle changes, medical treatment, surgical treatment and other procedures.

In daily life need:

- Choose alkaline foods that can neutralize acid: starchy foods like bread or oatmeal, or easily digestible proteins... because these foods help prevent acid from eroding the mucus layer in the stomach, limiting the rhythms of the esophageal sphincter with acid reflux.

- Limit foods that stimulate acid secretion or stimulate the lower esophageal sphincter: fruits with high acid content (lemon, orange, pineapple...), carbonated drinks, spicy, hot foods, chocolate...

- Avoid alcohol, coffee, and cigarettes. Do not wear tight clothes, do not eat too much, do not eat late at night, do not bend over for too long, do not lie down within 2 hours after eating, do not drink too much water while eating. Sleep with your head 15cm higher than your feet.

- Lose weight if overweight or obese.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/trao-nguoc-da-day-thuc-quan-can-biet-cach-phong-tranh-bien-chung-nguy-hiem-20241128061225688.htm