Common Causes and Treatments for Acid Reflux

Acid reflux disease, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (or GERD), occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (or valve to the stomach) doesn’t open and close properly. An faulty lower esophageal sphincter (or LES) will trigger the overproduction of stomach acids into the esophagus (heartburn). The presence of a stomach abnormality (or hiatal hernia) can also cause the LES to continually allow stomach acid up into the esophagus. This triggers the painful yet well known symptoms of heartburn—including burping, nausea, hiccups, bloating, sore throat, and burning food regurgitation.

Acid reflux is typically diagnosed when GERD symptoms occur more than twice a week. Of course, acid reflux can be exacerbated if patients:
● Are overweight
● Suffer from Dysphagia (narrowing esophagus)
● Smoke
● Eat acidic inducing foods (i.e., onions, fatty foods, garlic, chocolate, tomatoes, citrus)
● Lie down following meals
● Tend to overeat
● Snack right before bedtime
● During pregnancy
● Regularly take muscle relaxers, blood pressure medications, aspirin, or ibuprofen
● Drink gassy beverages (i.e., beer, carbonated drinks, coffee)

In many cases, doctors will recommend a combination of lifestyle changes combined with over-the-counter medications to treat GERD:
1. Lifestyle changes
Many patients with acid reflux significantly reduce their symptoms by quitting smoking, eating smaller, frequent meals to prevent heartburn, losing weight, avoiding tight or compressive clothing, and consuming meals at least 3 hours before lying down.

2. Over the counter antacids
Several over the counter remedies can do their part to help reduce acid reflux symptoms. Many health professionals recommend daily use of Riopan, Rolaids, Alka-Seltzer, Maalox, and Mylanta to help neutralize stomach acid and soothe GERD. However, keep in mind that long term antacid use can cause diarrhea or constipation.

3. Prescription medications
For chronic, severe GERD, doctors often prescribe a combination of drugs to reduce stomach acids (i.e., H2 blockers like Zantac), stomach coaters (i.e., foaming agents like Gaviscon), and Proton pump inhibitors, like Prilosec and Nexium).

4. GERD surgery
When over the counter remedies, lifestyle changes, and prescription medications are unable to provide relief from acid reflux, doctors may recommend surgery in extreme cases when GERD is impacting daily life. The common surgeries conducted as a last result on extreme GERD cases include:
● Fundoplication surgery, which creates an artificial valve by making a tiny incision in the abdomen and wrapping the upper part of the stomach around the LES to repair a hiatal hernia.
● LINX surgery, surgically implants a LINX ring around the outside of the lower end of the esophagus to strengthen the LES and block stomach content from regurgitating back up into the esophagus.

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How to fight head and neck cancer

April 7-14 is celebrated as Global Head and Neck Cancer Awareness Week. In the wake of this, an oncologist tells us how we can be better prepared to fight this disease.

Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the world. In central Asia, it is the most common one.

Smoking, consumption of alcohol, and chewing of tobacco are the main causes. Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection is also a risk factor.

Persistent mouth ulcers, painful ulcerative lesion on the lip, a hoarse voice, dysphagia, and lump in the throat are the major symptoms.

The disease can be diagnosed by clinical examination, CT scan, MRI, and biopsy. After the diagnosis and staging of the disease, head and neck cancer is treated through surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.

In the early stages, the disease is mainly treated by surgery. In certain clinical situations, radiotherapy is the treatment of choice. Bulky tumours are generally best treated with a combination of surgery and radiotherapy. More than 60% of head and neck cancers are advanced locoregional diseases. 

The use of radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy has been demonstrated to be associated with survival advantage over radiotherapy alone.

Although platinum-based chemotherapy is a preferred choice of treatment for fit patients, targeted therapies for platinum-unfit patients come with good survival advantages. 

Recently, targeted therapies and immune-oncology drugs have also shown promising results in relapsed cases. 

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/    

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Signs of Acid Reflux

Acid reflux, also known as GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) is a common medical problem. Millions of people are affected by GERD and sometimes they don't even realize that they have it. In addition, acid reflux can cause other diseases.

 

According to researchers, it may aggravate asthma, proven by the fact that the majority of asthmatics have GERD. Acid-reflux is a long-term condition in which whatever you eat, comes back up into the esophagus and causes unpleasant symptoms or complications. People who are obese, pregnant women, smokers and those who take certain medicines are at risk of developing it. So what signs indicate that you may have GERD?

 

 

 

1. Acidic taste in the mouth
This condition is caused by the muscle or sphincter at the top of the stomach. When it becomes weak, acid rises up into the food pipe and the sour acidic taste can stay for weeks and be very irritating, affecting your quality of life. This is an especially common problem among pregnant women because there is more pressure on the stomach. 

2. Regurgitation

This is the backing up of acid into your throat or mouth. You may experience a bitter taste, burp or even vomit. It can occur at any time but it gets especially worse at night. You may also wake up with bitter liquid in your throat and a feeling of panic. 

3. Heartburn
Many people have experienced heartburn, but few think they have had acid reflux. Heartburn is a common symptom of GERD. Usually, symptoms of heartburn include burning or discomfort in the middle of the lower chest that can be felt after eating. The discomfort may increase when bending over or lying flat on your back. 
4. Dyspepsia
When experiencing acid reflux you may feel stomach discomfort. This includes nausea after eating, upper abdominal pain, burping, and stomach fullness. There are times when you don't feel hungry and you don't have an appetite because of the feeling of fullness in your stomach. 

5. Dysphagia
This means that you can feel the sensation of stacked food in your throat and happens because of a narrowing of your esophagus. When this happens it can become a challenge because you are unable to swallow so you may not eat enough calories, leading to additional medical problems. 
6. Coughing
While coughing is not a typical symptom of acid reflux, 25-40% of cases are registered with a chronic cough. 
How to avoid acid reflux:
1. Eat smaller portions. It's better to eat often than to have a big meal once or twice per day.
2. Avoid alcohol, acid, spice and fatty foods.
3. Lose weight if needed.
4. Don't wear tight clothing.
5. Don't eat before sleeping. 



THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/   

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10 Severe Symptoms of Food Allergies

Many people think that if they didn’t develop a food allergy as children, they will probably manage to avoid one for the rest of their lives, but according to a study published in December 2017, nearly half of people with food allergies developed them as adults. This means that food allergies aren’t only developed in childhood, but also in adulthood in people who have had no problem eating anything up till then.

Living with allergies requires dietary and lifestyle adjustments to avoid the ingredients or food that trigger an allergic reaction, but first, it is important to know whether the allergy is present in your body. To do this, it is important that you know the 10 symptoms of food allergies that we tend to diagnose as momentary or disease-related reactions, thus improving the quality of your life and the lives of those closest to you.

1. Rash/redness of the skin

Food allergies vary from person to person, and while some may develop symptoms immediately, others may take a long time to develop a response. One of these symptoms is a rash, redness or bumps on the skin that are mainly found on the area of the hands, feet, and joints. These rashes don’t always itch, so people tend to think they may have developed a sensitivity to a particular cosmetic product or have come into contact with a component that has stimulated skin irritation.
Therefore, if you’ve noticed rashes in different areas of the body more than once, there is a reasonable chance that this is an allergy, and it is important to consult your doctor for advice and treatment, especially if the reaction comes immediately after eating a meal.

2. A weak pulse

Changes in blood pressure are another sign of developing allergies to some foods, so if you experience a sudden drop in blood pressure and your heart rate slows down, you may have developed a food allergy to something you’ve eaten. Many people attribute this drop in pulse to a mental or emotional state, but even if it is weak and occurs only "sometimes", it is important not to ignore this symptom and contact your doctor for treatment.

3. Dizziness

As a result of a sudden drop in blood pressure, another symptom can appear - that is a feeling of dizziness. This unpleasant feeling may even cause some people to feel that they are going to faint. Do not ignore this problematic symptom as it can interrupt daily life and indicates a health problem that requires ongoing treatment.

4. Difficulty swallowing

This symptom, known as dysphagia, indicates a problem in the throat or esophagus. People who experience this symptom feel as if there is a large lump in their throat that constricts the esophagus and interferes with food and fluids passing through it. This symptom is typical of other physical problems, so it should not be ignored whether it is a food allergy or something else.

5. Swollen tongue

This is a pretty obvious sign of a food allergy that needs to be checked by a professional to diagnose accurately. When the body comes into contact with allergens, one of the reactions is swelling of the throat and tongue, which can lead to difficulties in speech, swallowing and even breathing. This reaction requires immediate treatment to open the airways, therefore, don’t hesitate to call emergency services.

6. Chest tightness

The difficulty in swallowing discussed in the previous section results from an immune response that sends large amounts of white blood cells into the esophagus, causing it to be inflamed and narrow. The same reaction causes some people to feel a pressure in the chest that is similar to an anxiety attack or emotional stress. This inflammatory response can be prevented by taking anti-allergy drugs, or by avoiding the allergens that cause it. Your doctor should be informed if you experience any chest tightness. 

7. A cough, wheezing, and shortness of breath

We tend to think about them mainly in the context of colds and flu, but these symptoms may also characterize a food allergy and cause real problems if ignored. 
The severity of these symptoms varies from person to person, and in many cases, the cough is particularly severe and requires epinephrine. This prescription drug is especially important for people with allergies who suffer from seizures, coughs, wheezing, and shortness of breath.

8. Pale or bluish skin

When the skin starts to become pale or bluish, it is a sign of cyanosis - a condition in which insufficient oxygen-rich blood reaches the skin and mucous membranes. When you notice this sign, do not conclude that you’re just cold and your body is responding accordingly, as it may be an allergic reaction which is preventing the proper transfer of oxygen to the different tissues in your body. If you notice cyanosis occurring in your body again and again even when you are not particularly cold, it is important to consult your doctor to see if it is an allergic reaction or another problem that requires treatment.

9. Vomiting

As mentioned, there are allergic reactions that are immediate and those that develop after a certain period of time, following contact with an allergenic food. In addition, allergic reactions develop differently in everyone, take for example vomiting, which can occur half an hour or more after eating an allergenic food. This symptom is typical, among other things, of sensitivity to gluten, but as noted, people with different food allergies also suffer from it.
If you find yourself vomiting after a meal, it is important that you contact your doctor. If vomiting is accompanied by some of the above symptoms, it is important to contact emergency services to prevent further deterioration.

10. GI problems

Gastrointestinal problems are also common to food sensitivity, so there are many people who just ignore them and continue to eat foods that harm them thinking that if it's a sensitivity, then it's not so bad. If you experience abdominal pain, need to go to the bathroom shortly after a meal or feel nauseous, do not diagnose yourself with food poisoning or food sensitivity without thoroughly checking it out. Allergies may worsen over time, and what may have started as stomachaches and gastrointestinal problems may worsen and include other symptoms that endanger your life, so do not hesitate to seek specialist treatment and diagnosis.

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/  

FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                        https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                              
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