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The gastroesophageal reflux it is a condition in which the contents of the stomach go up into the esophagus. “It is very common and occurs in an equivalent manner in both men and women, usually in adulthood, between the ages of thirty and fifty,” explains the Dr. Giusy June, nutrition biologist in Florence. “In Italy it affects one in three people and the likelihood of reflux increases with age. By correcting the lifestyles that may have led to its appearance, it is possible to improve the disorder “.
Causes
But what are the causes of his debut? “The esophagus – explains the expert – is the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. At the lower end there is a valve (lower esophageal sphincter) which prevents the passage of stomach contents into the esophagus and is released after swallowing to allow food to pass into the stomach. There gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) it is usually caused by the weakening of the valve located at the lower end of the esophagus. If the valve does not work properly, hydrochloric acid reflux may occur bile and food from the stomach into the esophagus ”.
Other factors that can increase the risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease are:
- overweight or obesity, as pressure on the stomach can weaken the muscles at the lower end of the esophagus
- consumption of high-content foods fat: The stomach takes longer to digest these foods and the surplus acid produced can go back up into the esophagus
- pregnancy
- hiatal hernia
- stress
- some drugs, such as calcium channel blockers (used to treat high blood pressure), nitrates (used to treat angina), and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Symptoms
Acid regurgitation and the return of food to the mouth are some of the signals the presence of reflux. “However, the main symptom associated with gastroesophageal reflux is the burning sensation (also called heartburn) felt in the upper part of the abdomen (epigastrium) and behind the breastbone ”, says Dr. June. Bad breath can be added to these, abdominal bloating and flatulence, a feeling of lump in the throat and repeated sore throat, chest pains.
Reflux within certain limits it is physiological: the amount of acid that goes up into the esophagus, usually after meals, is limited, and therefore does not cause particular problems. Most people can occasionally have these ailments after meals particularly abundant, but when they become particularly frequent (more than twice a week) and, above all, negatively affect the feeling of well-being we speak of “gastroesophageal reflux disease” (GERD) which may or may not be associated with changes in the esophageal mucosa due to the presence of acid.
“Six symptoms are particularly frequent and / or annoying, such as to affect the feeling of well-being – recommends Dr. June – it is advisable consult your doctor. In particular if: they are very frequent and intense; there treatment with drugs over the counter for two weeks has no effect; there is difficulty swallowing (swallowing); there are symptoms that could suggest a more serious problem, such as He retched repeated, He retched with blood, unexplained weight loss, feeling of choking while eating or difficulty swallowing food and liquids, chest pain“.
It is good to know that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can cause a number of complications, especially if it has been around for a long time. These include gastroesophageal ulcers, esophageal stricture, Barret’s esophagus and cancer of the esophagus. It is important to report these symptoms to your doctor: esophageal cancer, if detected early, can be surgically removed.
The anti-reflux diet
Many people make indiscriminate use of antacids against gastroesophageal reflux, but they are not careful about their own supply, which is very important to keep reflux disease under control. However, it is good to remember that these drugs work only about the symptoms without solving the problems that caused them. Sometimes they are insufficient, while on other occasions they are even useless, as a change in the lifestyles to achieve full recovery. Starting with what you bring to the table.
Advice from the expert? “Have small, frequent meals, don’t drink alcohol and avoid large meals in the evening ”, suggests the nutritionist. “Also, you have to avoid foods that can make symptoms worse reflux “.
Foods to avoid
“Among these appear:
- coffee
- you
- chocolate and cocoa
- tomatoes and derivatives
- mint
- citrus and citrus juices
- garlic and onion
- alcohol
- spices
- carbonated drinks
- foods high in fat“.
Finally, be careful not to wear clothes or belts too tight and to raise the head of the bed by 10-15 cm by inserting a shim under the legs of the bed. Avoid sources of stress and finally using relaxation techniques can help hold under control the illness.
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