Long term implications of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD); what are the risks involved?

The impact of untreated GERD

Have you ever experienced a painful burning sensation in the chest or regurgitated food or sour liquid? If yes, then it's probably a mild heartburn or a short term digestive disorder, which could go away on its own. However, if you experience the same on a daily basis and overlook the signs, it could lead to uncontrolled heartburn, which is a common sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.

What is GERD? How to identify it early?

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a digestive disorder that occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), that contains the food and acids inside the stomach, does not function properly. The LES or the ring of muscles normally remains closed and keeps the top of the stomach covered. Only when you're swallowing a food, it relaxes and opens, allowing the food to pass through.

GERD occurs when the LES opens even when you're not swallowing anything, allowing the stomach's content and digestive acids to flow back into the ring that connects the mouth and the stomach called the esophagus, causing irritation.

The tell-tale sign of GERD is acid reflux or heartburn. However, it is not serious until you experience the symptoms more than twice a week.

Other symptoms include:

- Nausea

- Vomiting

- Difficulty swallowing

- Bad breath

- Chest pain

- Sore throat or hoarse voice

Can untreated GERD (chronic acid reflux) lead to long term concerns?

While most people experience occasional heartburn, also known as gastroesophageal reflux, it takes the form of GERD in case it occurs daily and is left untreated. That said, untreated gastroesophageal reflux disease can lead to many long term complications because over time, the reflux of stomach acid damages the tissue lining the esophagus, causing inflammation and pain. In adults, long term, untreated GERD can cause permanent damage to the esophagus, leading to many other health complications.

Esophagitis

When the stomach's content and acids are repeatedly pushed back up into the esophagus, it can irritate the sensitive lining of the esophagus, causing long-term damage and injury. This can further trigger painful inflammation called esophagitis. This condition can cause ulcers in your esophagus, leading to further complications such as chest pain, bleeding, heartburn, difficulty swallowing food and more.

Barrett's Esophagus and the risk of esophageal cancer

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases states that only a small percentage of people with GERD develop Barrett’s esophagus, with an average age of 55 and most commonly in men.

Barrett's Esophagus is a condition that occurs in people who suffer from long term persistent GERD. It is an outcome of the damage caused by the acid reflux, which leads to the changes in the cells existing in the lining of the esophagus. The condition is also a major risk factor for esophageal cancer.

There are two types of esophageal cancer: Adenocarcinoma and Squamous cell carcinoma.

While adenocarcinoma develops in the lower part of the esophagus, squamous cell carcinoma starts from the cells in the lining of the esophagus. The latter form of cancer affects the upper and middle part of the esophagus.

The risk factors for Barrett's esophagus include chronic GERD, obesity, smoking, and large meal intake with foods that are highly greasy and processed.

Strictures or narrowing of the esophagus

 

Persistent damage to the esophagus can lead to scarring, also known as strictures, which can cause narrowing down of the esophagus. This in turn can make swallowing foods difficult and can prevent foods and drinks from reaching the stomach.

Respiratory complications

While it may come as a surprise, GERD can also lead to asthma flare-ups. During an acid reflux, when the acid from the stomach flows back up into the esophagus, small amounts of acid may also end up in the mouth and be inhaled, causing airway inflammation. The irritation can then lead to asthma attacks.

Having said that, people with GERD are more likely to develop other respiratory complications including chronic cough, hoarse voice, aspiration pneumonia, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and more.

Treatment options for GERD

Doctors and medical professionals may prescribe certain medications to treat GERD. However, make sure to consult your physician for effective results. Common over-the-counter (OTC) medications include:

- Antacids: Antacids help ease mild and occasional symptoms of acid reflux and GERD. These help eliminate the acid in the esophagus and stomach and stop heartburn.

- H2 receptor blockers: Those with chronic reflux may be prescribed H2 blockers which work towards blocking acid secretion in the stomach.

- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): PPIs also lower the amount of acid in the stomach and help ease irritation in the esophagus.

Those who have mild symptoms of GERD can resort to these lifestyle changes that can decrease one's risk of developing severe complications.

- Maintain healthy weight

- Quit smoking and alcohol consumption

- Practice portion control (avoid eating large meals)

- Do not lie down immediately after eating a heavy meal

- Avoid foods that are processed, fried and oily

- Say no to colas and other carbonated beverages, caffeine and citrus fruits

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

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Flavoured E-Cigarettes Trigger Heart Disease

The flavours used in electronic cigarettes (e-cigarette), especially cinnamon and menthol, can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) when inhaled, says a study.

The research team investigated the effect of the e-liquids on endothelial cells that line the interior of blood vessels.

The study, found that endothelial cells exposed to the e-liquids or to blood collected from e-cigarette users shortly after vaping, exhibit significantly increased levels of molecules implicated in DNA damage and cell death.

The severity of the damage, aspects of which occur even in the absence of nicotine, varies among popular flavours, said the researchers, adding that cinnamon and menthol were found to be particularly harmful.

“This study clearly shows that e-cigarettes are not a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes,” said a Prof.

For the study, the researchers investigated the effect of six different popular e-liquid flavours – fruit, tobacco, sweet tobacco with caramel and vanilla, sweet butterscotch, cinnamon and menthol – with varied nicotine levels on endothelial cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells or iPS cells.

“When we exposed the cells to six different flavours of e-liquid with varying levels of nicotine, we saw significant damage. The cells were less viable in culture, and they began to exhibit multiple symptoms of dysfunction,” the Prof. said.

The researchers found that while several of the liquids were moderately toxic to the endothelial cells, the cinnamon- and menthol-flavoured e-liquids significantly decreased the viability of the cells in culture even in the absence of nicotine.

“It’s important for e-cigarette users to realise that these chemicals are circulating within their bodies and affecting their vascular health,” the Prof. said. 

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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Flu Treatments Explained

The government has just approved a new form of antiviral medication called baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza) for people aged 12 and over. The drug is a single-dose oral medication and works by preventing the flu virus from spreading all over your body. Its creator, claims that it fights a whole range of flu viruses, including those resistant to other flu treatments and to bird flu strains.

Oseltamivir is available both as a generic version or under the trade name of Tamiflu. The latter was initially approved way back in 1999, and the government eventually approved a generic version in 2016. It's available in liquid suspension or pill form and is typically prescribed twice a day for 5 days. It can also be prescribed for flu prevention, in which case it’s taken once daily for seven days.

Zanamivir (Relenza) is a powder that’s inhaled, and the FDA has claimed that it is safe for children 7 years old and above, and is normally taken twice daily for five days. Finally, peramivir (Rapivab) is given intravenously, is safe for children aged two and over, and is administered once time for 15 to 30 minutes.
Who Are These Drugs For?
The people who should most strongly consider taking one of these new medications are:
• Hospitalized flu patients
• People who already have the flu
• People over 65
• Children under 5
• Pregnant women
• New mothers
• People suffering from asthma or organ diseases
• Obese people
• Diabetics
• People with weakened immune systems, such as from cancer, AIDS or HIV

What Side Effects Are There?
Patients on these antivirals typically report nausea as side effects. Other side effects may include headaches and common cold symptoms. When it comes to kids, Tamiflu has been connected to some psychiatric side effects. These could include irritability and occasional seizures. However, these symptoms normally go away when the drug is stopped.

How Effective Are They?
Your mileage may vary, but most professionals say that the drugs shorten the flu by around a day or so. The government approval of Xofluza was based on studies which compared it to a placebo and with oseltamivir (Tamiflu). In a particular study, which included over 1,000 patients, the median time to symptom improvement was around 54 hours with Xofluza and 80 with a placebo.

What Alternatives Are There?
Many people swear by home remedies, such as putting onions in your socks or consuming elderberry. Proponents claim that the onion's acidic compounds kill the nasty flu virus, while elderberry proponents claim that it eases symptoms. However, "there is currently no strong scientific evidence that any natural product is useful against the flu," according to the doctors.

"In terms of natural products, I don't give a recommendation for them," says a physician. However, he also notes that he understands that ''people often feel better doing something than nothing."

This is why the only alternative treatment that healthcare professionals usually provide are fever reducers such as acetaminophen, bed rest, and plenty of fluids.

Hydration is crucially important, according to a professor of infectious diseases and preventive medicine. "You frequently are so ill you have to rouse yourself from your bed of thorns and make yourself drink fluids. Water is fine, flavored or sparkling. Alcohol doesn't count. Coffee and tea don't count, they have caffeine [and are dehydrating]." This is a particularly important point since the Dr. says that "dehydration predisposes you to pneumonia," which is the last thing that someone with the flu needs.

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/                                                                                       FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com