Does esophagitis cause constipation?

Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 28, 2024
00:00
00:00

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.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
38sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
1min 22sec home-news-image

Esophagitis should be seen in the Gastroenterology department.

For esophagitis, we generally recommend that patients visit the department of gastroenterology. As the name suggests, esophagitis refers to inflammatory changes in the esophagus, which can have many causes such as diet, medications, and acid reflux, among others. Endoscopy is the gold standard for diagnosing esophagitis; under endoscopy, we can observe congestion, edema, and even erosions in the esophageal mucosa. Severe esophagitis can also present as ulcerations. Clinically, most cases of esophagitis present with heartburn and acid reflux, especially heartburn, which is characterized by a burning pain in the esophageal area. This is usually related to diet and symptoms can worsen after eating, leading most patients to seek care from a gastroenterologist. Additionally, a small portion of patients may experience other gastrointestinal symptoms such as burping and nausea. Thus, it is recommended for patients with esophagitis to undergo a thorough endoscopic examination at a gastroenterology clinic.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
40sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
1min 6sec home-news-image

How long does it take to cure esophagitis?

The treatment period for esophagitis is generally around 4 to 6 weeks, and is considered appropriate. Most patients, especially after 4 to 6 weeks, can control the symptoms of esophagitis through active medication treatment. Of course, a small number of patients, due to their physical condition such as obesity, may have severe reflux symptoms and might need long-term oral medication, such as antacids, maintaining the effects with the minimum dosage generally sufficient to control symptoms. It is recommended that patients consume easily digestible food, avoid overeating, eat smaller meals more frequently, and pay attention to their posture after meals to control the symptoms of esophagitis through diet. If this is ineffective, patients are advised to control symptoms with oral medications and maintain with the minimum dosage for life; generally, this can be controlled and surgical intervention is not necessary. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
36sec home-news-image

What is good to eat for esophagitis?

For esophagitis, first pay attention to dietary hygiene. Meals should be regular, and consume soft, easily digestible foods, such as noodles, rice soup, and vegetable soup. Avoid dry, hard, cold, overly hot, and gas-producing foods, such as bean products, milk, and nuts. Also, eat fresh vegetables and adequately supplement plant-based fiber, reduce the intake of high-fat foods, and avoid smoking, alcohol, strong tea, coffee, and other irritant foods. Make sure to eat on a schedule, in small, frequent meals.