Posts Tagged ‘Acid reflux’
Gastroesophageal Reflux
IMPACT
Gastroesophageal reflux is common, that 7% of people have heartburn daily and 15% each month. Moreover 27% of people take antacids more than twice a month. Most of these people have gastroesophageal reflux and half of these lesions of esophagitis. In people over age 50 is more common.
SYMPTOMS
* Heartburn is the most common. It is a burning or stinging sensation behind the sternum to the neck, most often with certain foods (fats, chocolate, alcohol, coffee and snuff).
* Dysphagia or difficulty swallowing food.
* Dry mouth.
* Dental infections more frequent.
* Chronic cough or asthma.
* Obscured by bleeding ulcers in the esophageal mucosa.
COMPLICATIONS
If reflux is normal and can give little more brash, but if it comes to producing pathological lesions of esophagitis.
Esophagitis is an inflammation of the esophageal mucosa, which if it persists over time degenerates into precancerous lesions (Barrett’s esophagitis) and cancer.
Esophagitis may cause or be secondary to hiatal hernia, which is the passage from one part of the stomach into the thoracic cavity through the diaphragm.