Subscribe
Esophagitis
Does esophagitis cause weight loss?
People with esophagitis tend to experience emaciation. Esophagitis, medically referred to as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is characterized by symptoms such as upper abdominal distension, chest pain, belching, acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, and indigestion. Due to the long-term presence of these symptoms, appetite can decrease, leading to emaciation in patients with GERD. During an endoscopy, if erosions in the gastric mucosa are observed, a diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease can be made. Based on the extent of these erosions, the condition can be classified into four grades, from A to D, with grade A being the mildest and grade D the most severe. Treatment mainly involves promoting gastric motility, repairing the mucosa, and acid-suppressing and stomach-protecting therapies, generally requiring about an eight-week treatment period.
How is esophagitis treated?
The treatment of esophagitis primarily consists of dietary adjustments and the selection of medications. Dietary recommendations suggest that patients consume clean, easily digestible foods, avoid binge eating, and refrain from the intake of pickled foods, cultivating good lifestyle and eating habits. Medication options include acid-suppressing, mucosal-protecting, and gastrointestinal motility-improving drugs, with an initial treatment duration of two to four weeks. Esophagitis is relatively common in clinical settings, typically seen in gastroenterology outpatient clinics, with symptoms such as nausea, heartburn, nausea, and belching being more common. Among these, heartburn is a typical symptom, characterized by a burning pain in the esophageal or pre-chest area, usually episodic and related to diet, with symptoms often occurring after meals. Diagnosis relies primarily on gastroscopy, thus it is recommended that patients considered to have esophagitis undergo timely gastroscopic examination to further clarify the condition. (The use of medications should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor.)
How to check for esophagitis?
In clinical practice, the diagnosis of esophagitis mainly relies on gastroscopy. Therefore, it is generally believed that patients with esophagitis are advised to undergo a comprehensive gastroscopy to confirm the diagnosis. Patients with esophagitis usually consult the gastroenterology department, presenting typically with symptoms like acid reflux and heartburn. Some patients may also experience nausea, belching, or dysphagia. Heartburn typically manifests as a burning pain in the chest or esophageal area, occurring episodically and generally related to diet, with episodes more commonly occurring after meals. The diagnosis of esophagitis relies on gastroscopy. Treatment options include dietary adjustments and selecting appropriate medications. Dietary recommendations involve consuming easily digestible and clean foods, avoiding overeating, and cultivating good living habits. Medications can include acid reducers, mucosal protectants, and agents that improve gastrointestinal motility. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)
Which part to massage for esophagitis
Esophagitis can be treated by massaging the Laogong acupoint, which can promote blood circulation and relieve mental tension. Alternatively, the Daling acupoint can improve gastric motility and aid symptoms of indigestion effectively. Furthermore, esophagitis can also be managed by massaging the Zhongwan acupoint, a commonly used point for spleen and stomach disorders, capable of treating various symptoms. The Zhongwan acupoint is located on the upper abdomen, on the anterior midline, at the midpoint between the lower end of the sternum and the navel. Therefore, it is essential to massage daily, approximately 10 to 15 minutes each time, with gentle clockwise motions.
Does esophagitis cause chest pain?
Patients with esophagitis can experience pain in the anterior chest area, known as heartburn, which manifests as burning pain in the anterior chest or esophageal region. It usually occurs in episodic attacks, so it is generally believed that esophagitis can cause chest pain, which needs to be differentiated from chest pain caused by coronary heart disease. The diagnosis of esophagitis mainly relies on gastroscopy. For some typical patients, it is recommended that they complete a gastroscopy in a timely manner. Under gastroscopy, inflammatory changes in the esophageal mucosa can be observed, manifested as congestion, edema, erosion, or even ulcer formation. The treatment of esophagitis mainly involves adjusting medication choices and dietary adjustments. Dietary recommendations include a light diet, and medications may include those that reduce acid and protect the mucosa and improve gastrointestinal motility. A typical course of treatment would be two to four weeks, and most patients can achieve relief. (The use of medications should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor.)
Can I eat sweet potatoes with esophagitis?
If esophagitis is not severe, it is okay to eat a moderate amount of sweet potatoes, as they are not highly irritating and do not significantly affect the esophagus. However, if the condition is more severe, it is necessary to control the intake of sweet potatoes. This is because sweet potatoes contain a large amount of starch, which can lead to bloating after consumption and can trigger symptoms such as indigestion. Additionally, nausea, vomiting, or acid reflux might occur. Sweet potatoes are sweet and can stimulate the excessive secretion of gastric acid, which not only causes nausea and vomiting but also affects the mucous membrane of the esophagus, potentially worsening the symptoms of esophagitis. Those with esophagitis should aim for a bland diet, eat smaller and more frequent meals, and chew slowly and thoroughly.
Does esophagitis cause constipation?
Esophagitis generally does not cause constipation. However, if a person has esophagitis and their gastrointestinal motility is reduced, constipation may occur. The main symptoms of esophagitis include feeling like there is a foreign object when swallowing, pain when swallowing, and pain behind the sternum. The diet for esophagitis generally consists of semi-liquid or liquid food. It is advisable to eat more vegetables and soft, easily digestible foods, and to avoid raw, cold, and strongly irritant foods. Additionally, it is important to hydrate regularly and choose antibiotics appropriately for treatment. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)
What department do you go to for esophagitis?
Esophagitis is a relatively common disease in gastroenterology, so patients with esophagitis should visit the gastroenterology department. Generally, clinicians will inquire in detail about the medical history to understand the progression of the disease and the symptoms of the patient. Routine examinations typically include a barium swallow test or an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Under a barium meal examination, disorders of the esophageal mucosal folds and narrowing of the lumen can be detected. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy can reveal inflammatory changes in the esophageal mucosa. Through the results of these examinations, systematic treatment can be administered.
Which department should I go to for esophagitis?
Esophagitis is a disease of the digestive system and can be treated at the Department of Gastroenterology. Generally, it requires routine examinations such as barium meals of the esophagus or endoscopy. Through the examination of the barium meal, one can observe the disordered folds of the damaged esophageal mucosa, sometimes small niches and narrowing of the esophageal lumen can be seen. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy can reveal inflammatory changes in the esophageal mucosa. For milder cases of esophagitis, medication can be used primarily to inhibit the secretion of stomach acid and for anti-inflammatory purposes. More severe cases may require hospitalization for infusion therapy.
Can you smoke with esophagitis?
Patients with reflux esophagitis must avoid raw, cold, spicy, and irritating foods, including tobacco, strong tea, and coffee. Nicotine, primarily found in cigarettes, adversely affects the patient's blood vessels and irritates the stomach and esophageal mucosa to varying degrees. It also stimulates the trachea, causing coughing. Therefore, it is crucial for patients with reflux esophagitis to quit smoking. Moreover, these patients must strictly control their diet, avoiding overly spicy, acidic, hot, or overly cold foods. Treatment is important, but regular maintenance is also very crucial.