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Will I have Gastroesophageal Reflux?
by Doctor Luis Javier Cárdenas
Gastroenterologist Surgeon
Obesity specialist and metabolism
Gastroesophageal reflux is a condition that most individuals have suffered at least once in their life, especially after a copious intake of fats, irritants and alcohol, however, which is not normal and defines it as a disease , is to suffer from it frequently at least once a week, which affects your daily life, work, sleep and your relationship.
The patient suffering from gastroesophageal reflux is characterized by having the sensation that food together with gastric acid is returning to the throat through the esophagus, with irritation of the pharynx and esophagus, which can additionally cause spasms and burning pain.
Other symptoms can accompany the reflux is the presence of repetitive cough that seems incurable (thinking that it is a chronic cold with many visits to the doctor and without improvement) is the result of nocturnal reflux when we sleep; The burning in the chest behind the sternum is another symptom that irritates the esophagus so much that the patient can feel the passage of food when he eats, due to the degree of inflammation. Whether the symptoms are mild or intense, this entity has treatment that ranges from taking medications to surgery.
El paciente que padece reflujo gastro-esofágico se caracteriza por tener la sensación de que los alimentos junto con el ácido gástrico se regresan a la garganta a través del esófago, con irritación del faringe y del esófago, que adicionalmente puede ocasionar espasmos y dolor de tipo urente.
Otros síntomas pueden acompañar al reflujo es la presencia de tos repetitiva que parece incurable (pensando que es un resfriado crónico con muchas visitas al médico y sin mejoría) es resultado del reflujo nocturno cuando dormimos; el ardor en el pecho atrás del esternón es otro síntoma que llega a irritar tanto el esófago que el paciente puede sentir el paso de los alimentos cuando come, por el grado de inflamación. Ya sean leves o intensos los síntomas esta entidad tiene tratamiento que va desde la ingesta de medicamentos hasta la cirugía.
El origen de esta sintomatología esta dado por varios mecanismos, el principal de ellos es la falta de cierre de una válvula que se encuentra entre el estómago y el esófago, que se llama esfínter esofágico inferior, permitiendo el paso del ácido al esófago.
The origin of this symptomatology is given by several mechanisms, the main one being the lack of closure of a valve that is between the stomach and the esophagus, which is called the lower esophageal sphincter, allowing the passage of acid to the esophagus.
Other factors may be involved that favor reflux such as Hiatal Hernia that allows part of the stomach to slide into the thorax, Obesity which increases intra-abdominal pressure favoring reflux, esophageal motility disorders altering the mechanism of propulsion of food Finally, the presence of Helicobacter Pylori (bacteria that can inflame the Gastric mucosa and promote the secretion of acid) influencing the sphincter mechanism.
Gastro-esophageal reflux is one of the most frequent causes - along with gastritis - for consultation in gastroenterology. Initially it is treated with antacids and changes in eating habits, but if, despite this drug treatment for 6 weeks, the symptoms persist or return, the next step is to perform an endoscopy, in addition to a pH measurement, a Manometry, and more recently Pepsinogen saliva test to define the causal diagnosis of the disease.
El reflujo gastro-esofágico es una de las causas mas frecuentes -junto a la gastritis- de consulta en gastroenterología. Inicialmente es tratado con antiácidos y cambios en los hábitos de alimentación, pero si a pesar de este tratamiento medicamentoso durante 6 semanas los síntomas persisten o regresan, el paso a seguir es la realización de una endoscopía, además de una pHmetría, de una Manometría, y mas recientemente Prueba de Pepsinógeno en saliva para definir el diagnóstico causal de la enfermedad.