What should you avoid eating if you have esophagitis?

Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 15, 2024
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There are many foods that should be avoided with esophagitis, as any food that irritates the esophagus and worsens the condition should be avoided. First are dry, hard, cold, overly hot, or gas-producing foods, such as nuts, walnuts, as well as milk, soy milk, bread, and other foods that produce a lot of gas. Also, avoid smoking, alcohol, strong tea, coffee, and other irritating foods. Focus on consuming nutritious and easily digestible foods, maintain a regular eating schedule, and pay attention to food hygiene, ensuring meals are timely and in proper amounts.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Can esophagitis cause coughing?

Esophagitis generally does not cause coughing, as coughing is a symptom of respiratory diseases. Esophagitis mostly causes symptoms of the digestive system, such as heartburn, particularly when eating food, accompanied by painful swallowing, and pain behind the sternum. Severe esophagitis can lead to the narrowing of the esophageal lumen, difficulty swallowing, and may also present with vomiting. Esophagitis can also cause bleeding; bleeding of the mucous membranes can lead to vomiting blood or black stools. Recurrent esophagitis causes a decrease in appetite and impairs absorptive functions, leading to weight loss.

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Written by Zhai Guo Dong
Gastroenterology
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Can esophagitis be cured?

Common causes of esophagitis include reflux of stomach acid and inflammation caused by excess stomach acid. Esophagitis can be healed through dietary control and medical treatment. However, it is prone to recurrence, for example, with increased stomach acid, worsening of chronic gastritis or acid reflux, and lack of attention to diet, among other factors. Therefore, we advise patients to avoid irritating foods and appropriately consume medications that protect the mucosa and suppress stomach acid.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Can esophagitis cause chest tightness?

Esophagitis generally does not cause symptoms of chest tightness, as the inflammation in the esophagus typically leads to symptoms of the digestive system, and does not cause disorders of the respiratory or circulatory systems. Clinically, common symptoms of esophagitis include a burning sensation, along with difficulty swallowing and pain behind the breastbone. When the esophagitis is severe, it can lead to a narrowing of the esophageal lumen, causing a choking sensation when swallowing food, and possibly inducing vomiting. The inflammation can cause bleeding, which may manifest as vomiting blood or black stools.

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Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
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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.

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Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
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Is esophagitis prone to recurrence?

Reflux esophagitis can recur frequently. Generally, mild reflux esophagitis can often be cured through adjustments in diet and lifestyle habits as well as medication treatment, and it will not recur. If it is moderate to severe reflux esophagitis, the effectiveness of medication may be insufficient, leading to persistent recurrence. Additional factors such as dietary and lifestyle habits, including smoking, drinking alcohol, consuming spicy foods, excessive fatigue, etc., can also cause recurrence. The presence of certain diseases can further exacerbate the occurrence of reflux esophagitis, such as dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter, hiatal hernia, and insufficient gastric motility, all of which may lead to recurrent symptoms.