Diet, lifestyle hacks to say goodbye to acid reflux and protect yourself from oesophageal cancer

Doctor shares diet tips and lifestyle tweaks to manage acid reflux and prevent oesophageal cancer, along with treatment and medications to avoid complications.

 Acid reflux might seem harmless, but chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can have life-altering consequences, including the development of oesophageal cancer. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker (Consultant Bariatric and Laparoscopic Surgeon at MetaHeal - Laparoscopy and Bariatric Surgery Center in Mumbai and Saifee and Apollo and Namaha Hospitals in Mumbai) highlighted that certain factors make some people more susceptible to oesophageal cancer, including:

 Chronic GERD (acid reflux lasting for years)

Barrett’s oesophagus

Obesity (which increases pressure on the stomach, worsening reflux)

Smoking and excessive alcohol use

A diet

If you experience any of these symptoms or have multiple risk factors, do not ignore them. Seeking medical attention early can improve outcomes.

How to reduce the risk:

1. Managing acid reflux to prevent cancer

One of the ways to lower the risk of oesophageal cancer is by controlling acid reflux effectively. As per Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker, here’s how that can be done: 

• Maintain a healthy weight – Excess weight increases abdominal pressure, pushing acid into the esophagus.
• Eat smaller meals – Overeating increases acid production and worsens reflux.
• Avoid trigger foods – Limit spicy, fatty and acidic foods, as they weaken the LES.
• Quit smoking and reduce alcohol consumption – Both can damage the esophageal lining and weaken the LES.
• Do not lie down immediately after eating – Wait at least 2–3 hours before lying down to prevent acid reflux.
• Elevate your head while sleeping – Sleeping with an elevated head can reduce nighttime reflux.

 

2. Medical treatment options

Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker revealed that doctors may prescribe medications to help manage GERD and prevent complications:

• Antacids – Neutralise stomach acid for temporary relief.
• H2 Blockers – Reduce acid production (e.g., ranitidine, famotidine).
• Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) – Stronger acid reducers (e.g., omeprazole, pantoprazole).

When is surgery needed?

For severe GERD that does not respond to medications, Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker recommended that surgical options like fundoplication may be considered as this procedure tightens the LES, preventing acid reflux. If diagnosed with Barrett’s oesophagus, Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker suggested that regular endoscopic monitoring is essential to detect early signs of cancer.

Prevention tips

According to Dr Aparna Govil Bhasker, the key to prevention lies in early detection, lifestyle changes and medical intervention.

• Listen to your body. Persistent acid reflux should never be ignored.
• Seek medical advice if you have long-term GERD or symptoms of Barrett’s oesophagus.
• Regular screenings can save lives. If you have risk factors, discuss endoscopic evaluation with your doctor.

By taking control of acid reflux, you can significantly lower your risk of oesophageal cancer and protect your digestive health.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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7 Things Your Feet Might Be Trying To Tell You

Many times when we feel ill, we rush to the mirror in the house and examine our faces to check if we are pale, flushed, or show other signs of illness. However, instead of looking at the obvious whenever you aren’t feeling well, you may want to try to look a little further down at your feet that contain quite a few clues about your health, and sometimes even alert you to the feasibility of many serious diseases. From diabetes to cardiovascular disease, these are seven symptoms that appear in your feet which you shouldn’t ignore.

1. Change of skin color and shape  

Unfortunately, our natural tendency is to ignore our feet completely until they hurt, when in fact they function like any other organ in the body, and they may “quietly” allude to a variety of illnesses, including cancer. According to American Podiatrist Dr. Jane Andersen, skin cancer is one of the most common diseases in the foot area, as many of us do not protect it with sunscreen as we do the upper body and face. "If you see a mole that has grown abnormally or notice unexplained color changes in the skin, this should be carefully examined." 

 

In addition, Dr. Andersen strongly recommends not skipping the toes and fingernails in search of dark spots that may signal the development of melanoma, one of the most common skin cancers. 

 

2. Pain 

We all suffer from foot pain from time to time, especially after a long day of running from place to place. But what happens if the pain appears for no apparent reason? According to Dr. Andersen, unexplained pain can signal a host of diseases, and severe pain that occurs immediately when we get out of bed and fades throughout the day can indicate the onset of inflammation in one of the leg joints because the joint heats up as we are active and hardens when we rest. 

 

In order to prevent inflammation, it is recommended that you don’t compromise on good sports shoes and make sure to change them every year. If this is a pain that worsens throughout the day, this symptom may indicate a stress fracture caused by an unbalanced workout routine, which may worsen over time, so you may want to consult a specialist as soon as possible if you experience this type of pain.

3. Numbness and tingling 

Tingling in the feet is a well-known phenomenon that appears when we inadvertently block blood flow by sitting cross-legged, lotus style, or placing a foot on a leg. If you notice that there is a feeling of tingling that appears without you sitting in one of these positions, Dr. Andersen warns that this symptom may indicate serious health problems from diabetes to excessive alcohol consumption. 

 

Diabetes reduces blood flow to the feet and in extreme cases can lead to nerve damage and may even require amputation due to the formation of necrosis. In addition, numbness in the legs may be caused by excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, due to the products of decomposition of alcohol that cause the destruction of nerve cells in the body.

4. Swelling 

 

 

In addition to our feet swelling after standing on them for long hours without rest, swollen feet may also indicate heart, liver and kidney disease. According to Dr. Andersen, excessive swelling in an area with no history of unusual physical injury or exertion may occur as a result of the accumulation of salts and fluids, which is considered to be one of the known symptoms of heart failure and kidney failure. Liver disease can also lead to the accumulation of fluid in the legs, due to lack of a protein called albumin produced in the liver, which is responsible for the balance of fluids in the body.

5. Constant itching 

Apart from the constant itching and bad smell, foot fungus that isn’t treated in time can also cause nail damage and even increase the chances of foot infections. In addition, fungi have a tendency to attack and infect other parts of the body, which can only prolong treatment. It is worth knowing that as you get older, your body's ability to fight infections decreases and the chances are that the disease will worsen and develop beyond a specific infection, therefore, it is important to treat it when first noticed. 

 

6. Sudden change in walking 

Each and every one of us has a unique style of walking, and such habits don’t change overnight. If you notice that your walking is changing or you hear it from people around you, you should seek medical advice immediately because sudden changes in walking may result from the appearance of various neurological problems, primarily stroke and multiple sclerosis. 

 

In cases of multiple sclerosis, the damage to the nervous system can lead to the "numbness" of areas of the foot, sometimes without our noticing it. Another reason that can cause changes in walking is pain in the back area due to various physical infections and injuries, which can cause us to change our walking and posture unconsciously to prevent putting a heavy load on the affected area.

7. Cold feet  

Most of us some suffer from cold feet, a phenomenon that is quite common during the cold winter months. But if you notice that you can’t warm your feet up despite all the efforts, it is very possible that the problem is due to insufficient blood flow to the area. This symptom should be taken seriously, especially during menopause, due to the prevalence of peripheral artery disease (PAD) at these ages, a disease that is manifested in the blockage of arteries, especially in the lower extremities. 

 

Apart from the possible appearance of foot wounds and edema, peripheral artery disease increases the risk of heart disease. As a preventive measure, Dr. Andersen recommends reducing salt-rich foods and avoiding harmful habits such as smoking, both of which can partially alleviate the problem.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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5 Common Habits That Will Damage Your Liver

The liver is one of the most important organs in the human body. Everything that we eat must be processed by the liver before its nutrients can be distributed throughout the body. The liver has a wide range of functions and it plays a vital role in a number of physiological processes, including blood detoxification and metabolic function. As a result, our body’s health is directly related to the health of our liver.

Although the liver is capable of replacing damaged cells, if too many cells are lost, the liver may not be able to function correctly. There are several bad habits that are part of our everyday life which may increase the risk of liver damage and pain. We may not even realize it, as the damage can be gradual with no obvious symptoms. However, over a period of time, these habits can cause severe damage to your liver, putting your life in jeopardy.

So, let us take a look at some of the common bad habits that can damage your liver.

1. Excessive Alcohol

Heavy alcohol consumption is the most common cause of liver damage. Excessive alcohol decreases the liver’s ability to remove toxins from the body. This is because the liver gets distracted from its other functions, and focuses mainly on converting the alcohol into a less toxic form, and this causes fatty liver disease and inflammation. 

 

When the liver tries to break down alcohol, the resulting chemical reaction damages the liver cells, and after a long period of consuming excessive alcohol, the damage will become permanent, causing cirrhosis (which leads to loss of liver function). Furthermore, the liver’s attempts to repair the damaged caused can lead to DNA mutations that initiate cancerous growths. 

 

2. Overuse of Medications 

As one of the liver’s roles is to break down substances that we consume, including medications, supplements, and herbs, consuming too much of a certain medication can gradually harm our liver. This damage can range from mild to complete liver failure. 

 

One of the most well-known medications that can cause liver damage is acetaminophen, which is commonly available without prescription and can be found in many cold and flu remedies as well as prescription pain medications. This substance is safe in small doses, but you can damage your liver if you take too much of it over the course of several days. 

 

Certain herbal remedies and natural supplements can also be harmful to the liver in excess amounts. For example, a well-known cause of liver toxicity is too much vitamin A. This is why it is vitally important to check the label of any medicine or supplement to see if there are any warnings about potential liver damage.  

 

3. Smoking

Smoking is one habit you must give up if you ever want to be healthy. Cigarette smoke affects the liver indirectly. The toxic chemicals that are found in the smoke eventually reach the liver and cause oxidative stress that produces free radicals that damage the cells. 

 

This oxidative stress can also cause fibrosis, a process in which the liver develops excess tissue, similar to that of scar tissue, during its attempt to repair itself, and, over time, this can greatly affect the liver’s ability to work properly. 

 

4. Sleep Deprivation 

A study that was published in the Journal of anatomy found that sleep deprivation can cause oxidative stress to the liver. Another study from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine reveals why shift work and people who suffer from sleep deprivation suffer from a range of health problems. Including obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. 

 

This study found that the livers of the subjects weren’t processing fat efficiently, allowing fat to accumulate. Furthermore, when we sleep, our body goes into a repair process. Therefore, you need to make sure that you get a good 8 hours of sleep per night, as a lack of sleep will ruin your elimination process and damage your liver. 

 

5. Obesity and Poor Nutrition

Obesity has been linked to poor eating habits and this can harm your liver over a period of time. The reason for this is because too much of the wrong food causes excess fat to build-up in the liver, known as NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease). 

 

The liver normally helps to process and regulate the amount of sugar and fat in our blood, but in obese people, the liver becomes overwhelmed and starts storing excess fats in its own liver cells, either because there is no other place to put them, or the liver has failed to break them down. Over time, if too much fat accumulates in the liver, the liver can become inflamed and the liver cells can be damaged. 

 

Food to Eat or Avoid 

 

• Consuming a large amount of processed foods, which are often full of preservatives, additives, artificial sweeteners, and flavorings exposes the liver to damage because they are hard to break down and are full of chemicals. 

 

• Processed foods are also full of salt, which not only increases blood pressure, but can also cause fatty liver disease by building up fluid in the liver and causing swelling. 

 

• Not eating enough leafy greens, fruits, and other vegetables (which are a great source of antioxidants), will not give the body enough vitamin C and E, zinc, beta-carotene, and selenium, all of which help to keep the liver healthy. 

 

• Vitamin B12, mainly found in meat, is used by the liver to help with the flow of bile, so it’s important not to have a vitamin B12 deficiency. Other B vitamins also help in the liver’s detoxification process, and they can be found in dried fruits, nuts, egg yolks, fish, brown rice, and legumes.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com. one can see my crochet creations  
https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com. feel free to view for easy, simple and healthy recipes    
https://kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com. for info on knee replacement