Acid reflux is a common problem for urbanites. According to local research, regarding 3.8% of Hong Kong’s population suffers from the disease, a 60% increase in the ten years from 2002 to 2011. Surgical specialist Huang Weihao reminded that once the symptoms of acid reflux occur, gastroscopy is very important, which can help to accurately diagnose the disease and make the most appropriate treatment.
Huang Weihao said that there is a valve between the stomach and the esophagus, which is used to prevent the food in the stomach from flowing back into the esophagus. When the valve function is abnormal, gastric acid reflux may occur. “In this case, there is generally no problem with the stomach function, it is just the mechanism of the valve. Abnormal.”
Frequent consumption of midnight snack is a high risk
The study found that obese or pregnant women, drinking, smoking, mental stress, and bad eating habits including overeating and eating late at night are all high-risk factors for acid reflux. Coffee, chocolate, mint, and hot and sour foods are high-risk foods that can trigger acid reflux.
The most common symptoms of acid reflux are heartburn, pain (commonly known as “burning heart”), and a sore and bitter feeling in the mouth. Other common symptoms include frequent coughing, frequent “cam cam sound” like a foreign body in the throat, or asthma, rustling, etc.
Check 4 major purposes
When a surgeon encounters a case of heartburn and suspected acid reflux, he usually recommends a gastroscopy. Huang Weihao pointed out that the purposes include:
1. Look for signs of relaxation in the valve between the esophagus and stomach.
2. Are there any complications due to acid reflux, such as esophagus inflammation.
3. There is a kind of “Esophageal achalasia”, which is the opposite of acid reflux. The esophageal outlet is too tight, and the patient “falls out of order” following eating, but it may also cause symptoms such as heartburn. Gastroscopy can help. rule out this possibility.
4. Check the stomach and duodenum for inflammation or ulcers, and extract tissue to check for Helicobacter pylori.
In addition, if the patient is unable to accurately distinguish between heart and mouth pain caused by acid reflux, or angina associated with heart disease, a basic cardiac test may also be required to determine the cause.
adjust living habits
The treatment of acid reflux depends first on the severity of the condition. Huang Weihao explained, “Generally speaking, it can be divided into three aspects: living habits, drugs and surgery. Lifestyle habits include quitting overeating, not eating midnight snacks, trying two pillows when sleeping on your back, or sleeping on your side, as well as losing weight and quitting smoking. , stop eating foods that can cause acid reflux, etc. Drugs are mainly ‘proton pump inhibitors’, and most studies have shown that it is the most effective drug for the treatment of acid reflux.”
fundoplication
If the effect is still not satisfactory following adjusting the living habits and using drugs, surgery may be considered. There are many options for surgery. “The gold standard is fundoplication, which can be used in a minimally invasive way to strengthen the lower esophagus and reduce acid reflux. In addition, the newer surgery is magnetic sphincter augmentation (Magnetic sphincter augmentation). sphincter augmentation), the method is to place a magnet ring around the bottom of the esophagus. When eating, the magnet ring can limit the valve from opening too much and prevent gastric acid reflux. There is another operation, which can be used with gastroscope and radiofrequency ablation to cauterize the stomach The location of the cardia.” Huang Weihao reminded that the placement of the magnet ring and radiofrequency ablation are not suitable for every patient with acid reflux, and should be considered according to the results of the detailed examination.
Originally published on AM730 https://www.am730.com.hk/health/acid reflux-don’t ignore gastroscopy/331760
