Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a condition in which stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, causing symptoms that interfere with daily life and can lead to complications such as inflammation of the esophagus.
Acid reflux disease is a silent danger that has negative effects on the body. The main cause of this disease comes from our lifestyle. It causes a burning sensation in the epigastric region, spreading up to the chest or throat after eating a heavy meal, and burping with a sour smell.
Symptoms of Acid Reflux
Pharyngeal and esophageal symptoms
- Feeling like there is a lump in the throat or a tightness in the throat
- Have phlegm in your throat or a constant throat irritation
- Chronic sore throat, burning throat, ยูฟ่าเบท, burning mouth, burning tongue, especially in the morning
- It feels like there is a bitter taste of bile, a sour taste of acid in the throat or mouth.
- Frequent burping, nausea, a feeling as if food or digestive fluids are flowing back up into the chest or throat.
- Burning pain in the chest and epigastric region
- Feeling of tightness in the chest, similar to indigestion, excessive saliva flow, bad breath, tooth sensitivity, or tooth decay.
Laryngeal and tracheal symptoms
- Chronic hoarseness, or hoarseness only in the morning, or an unusually different voice
- Chronic cough, especially after eating or while lying down
- Choking or having difficulty breathing at night, frequent coughing
One of the causes of acid reflux disease is the behavior of “eating and then sleeping”, which causes the sphincter to not function well, causing acid reflux. Also, lying flat makes it easier for acid to reflux than usual. In addition, eating and then sleeping immediately increases the risk of acid reflux by 2 times.
Treatment
Changing habits and daily life: This method is most important in reducing the number of symptoms the patient has, preventing them from recurring, and reducing their recurrence by reducing the amount of acid in the stomach and preventing acid from flowing back up into the throat and larynx. This treatment method should be followed throughout life because it treats the root cause, even if the symptoms improve or are cured without having to take medicine.