Acid Reflux & Oesophagitis

Acid reflux is when acid from the stomach leaks up into the gullet (oesophagus), the condition is known as acid reflux. This may cause heartburn and other symptoms.

 What is reflux and oesophagitis?

• Acid reflux means that some acid moves up into the gullet (oesophagus) from the stomach.
• Oesophagitis means inflammation of the lining of the oesophagus. Most cases of oesophagitis are due to the reflux of stomach acid which irritates the inside lining of the oesophagus causing the inflammation.

Further Information:

https://gutscharity.org.uk/

Common Symptoms:

• Heartburn is the main symptom, where a burning feeling rises from the upper abdomen or lower chest up towards the neck.
• Pain in the upper abdomen and chest, feeling sick, an acid taste in the mouth.
• Bloating, belching, indigestion (dyspepsia) and a burning pain when you swallow hot drinks. Like heartburn, these symptoms tend to come and go and tend to be worse after a meal.

Uncommon symptoms:

• A persistent cough, particularly at night, sometimes occurs. This is due to the refluxed acid irritating the windpipe (trachea). Asthma symptoms of cough and wheeze can sometimes be due to acid leaking up (reflux).
• Severe chest pain develops in some cases (and may be mistaken for a heart attack)

The sphincter at the bottom of the oesophagus normally prevents acid leaking up, but problems occur when the sphincter does not work well. This is common but in most cases, it is not known why it does not work so well. In some cases, the pressure in the stomach rises higher than the sphincter can withstand – for example, during pregnancy, after a large meal, or when bending forward. If you have a hiatus hernia (a condition where part of the stomach protrudes into the chest through the diaphragm), you have an increased chance of developing reflux. 

• Antacids
• Acid supressing medication
• Lifestyle changes
• Surgery for severe symptoms, which are not helped with medication.

Lifestyle Changes:

• Losing weight
• Eating slowly / chewing well
• Eating smaller meals more often than fewer larger meals
• Not eating late at night
• Stop smoking
• Reduce alcohol intake
• Reduce caffeine intake
• Avoiding fizzy drinks
• Elevating the head of the bed