Does esophagitis cause weight loss?

Written by Si Li Li
Gastroenterology
Updated on March 30, 2025
00:00
00:00

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.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
1min 26sec home-news-image

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.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
44sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhu Dan Hua
Gastroenterology
1min 7sec home-news-image

Esophagitis type A

Esophagitis can be classified into four levels of severity: grade A, B, C, and D, with grade A being the mildest and grade D the most severe. For patients with grade A esophagitis, it is recommended that they pay attention to their diet and medication. Dietarily, it is advised that patients consume easily digestible meals, eat smaller portions more frequently, and avoid overeating. Medicinally, options include acid inhibitors, mucosal protectants, and medications that reduce stomach acid. The treatment course is 2 to 4 weeks, and if symptoms can be controlled, the dosage may be appropriately reduced. Clinically, esophagitis is relatively common with typical symptoms being nausea and heartburn, especially heartburn, which is the most frequent. This presents as a burning pain in the esophageal and anterior chest area, generally related to eating, and usually occurs after meals.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
54sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
57sec home-news-image

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.