Acid reflux or GERD is a commonly faced issue at large by the working class nowadays .its primarily because of poor food habits, long gaps between two meals, lack of timely sleep, stress at work place ,no attention towards fitness or workouts.
It manifests as severe bloating, extreme burning sensation in chest and stomach, continuously nausea, back pain , non cardiac chest pain, palpitations.
It can lead to long terms issues like gastric ulcers, weight loss,esophagitis with strictures leading to difficulty in swallowing, blood vomiting and vitamin deficiencies.
It can also lead to diarrhea, indigestion, constant flatulence and sometimes constipation and feeling of incomplete evacuation.
We can treat this by consulting a Gastroenterologist and starting food diet regime with few antacids. Correction of lifestyle is the key treatment.
Diagnosis is made by upper GI endoscopy which will detect these gastric or duodenal erosions and ulcers, H Pylori infections and esophagitis if any.
Ultrasonography will detect other causes of similar symptoms like gall stones, appendicitis and small bowel lesions if any.
Treatment is aimed at correcting the causative factors like dietary changes, key lifestyle changes like splitting the meals in 6 portions, reducing the gaps between two meals,avoiding excessive spicy and oily foods, adding destressing measures like yoga, meditation.
If endoscopy suggests ulcers or H.Pylori infection, treatment of the same is mandatory.This is to avoid further complications like bleeding from the ulcers, Pyloric stricture, esophagitis with strictures which may need endoscopic or surgical management.
Prevention is better than cure. Timely treatment will further avoid complications and can lead to a healthy life.