What is Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid backs up into your esophagus. This may cause heartburn and may ultimately cause damage to the lining of the esophagus. GERD, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, is when a person experiences chronic acid reflux.
How Does Acid Reflux Happen?
When you swallow, a muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes to allow food and liquid to flow down into your stomach, and then it closes again. Sometimes, however, this muscle relaxes abnormally or weakens causing stomach acid to flow back up into your esophagus. Some acid reflux symptoms include tasting regurgitated food or sour liquid at the back of your mouth or feeling a burning sensation in your chest, also known as heartburn. This backwash of acid can irritate the lining of your esophagus, causing it to become inflamed. As a result, over time, the inflammation can erode the esophagus, causing complications such as bleeding or swallowing problems.
People who have GERD or experience acid reflux on a regular basis are at an increased risk of Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer. The risk of cancer is low, but your doctor will likely recommend regular endoscopy exams at Texas Endoscopy to look for early warning signs of esophageal cancer. Dealing with chronic symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn can impede your quality of life. The GI doctors at Digestive Health Centers in Texas are here to help your condition, so you can get back to enjoying delicious foods again! Digestive Health Centers are located throughout the DFW metroplex, with locations in Bedford, Dallas and Plano, TX.
Symptoms of Acid Reflux/GE
- A burning sensation in your chest (heartburn), sometimes spreading to the throat, along with a sour taste in your mouth
- Chest pain
- Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- Dry cough
- Hoarseness or sore throat
- Regurgitation of food or sour liquid (acid reflux)
- Sensation of a lump in the throat
Risk Factors of Acid Reflux/GERD
- Obesity
- Hiatal hernia
- Pregnancy
- Smoking
- Asthma
- Diabetes
- Overeating
- Connective tissue disorders, such as scleroderma
Tests to Diagnose Acid Reflux/GERD
When acid reflux becomes chronic, there are some procedures and tests that your doctor can perform to diagnose GERD.
Barium Esophagram
Essentially, this is an X-ray of your upper digestive system. This procedure requires you to drink a chalky liquid that coats and fills the inside lining of your digestive tract. This allows the doctor to see the shape and condition of your esophagus, stomach and upper intestine.
Upper Endoscopy
An upper endoscopy involves passing a flexible tube down your throat. An endoscopy allows the doctor to visually examine the inside of your esophagus. You doctor might also use the endoscopy to collect a sample of tissue from your esophagus for further testing. This is usually done with sedation.
Esophageal pH (Acid) Test
This test monitors the amount of acid in your esophagus. The device used to measure acid can identify when and for how long stomach acid regurgitates into your esophagus.
Esophageal Motility Test
This test measures the movement and pressure in your esophagus.
Lifestyle Changes to Treat Acid Reflux/GERD
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Avoid tight-fitting clothes
- Avoid foods and drinks that trigger heartburn (common triggers are fatty or fried foods, tomato sauce, alcohol, mint, garlic, onion and caffeine)
- Eat smaller meals
- Watch portion sizes- larger and higher-fat meals tend to stay in the stomach longer before moving to the small intestine. So, the LES and esophagus are potentially exposed to stomach contents/acid for a longer time
- Keep a heartburn/food journal- record symptoms, the time they occurred, what you ate, and activities you engaged in before the discomfort started
- Don’t lie down after a meal
- Elevate the head of you bed
- Don’t smoke
In contrast, while some people experience relief by making changes, others may continue to experience these symptoms. If 4 to 8 weeks of twice-daily PPI therapy is unsuccessful, further investigation with endoscopy is recommended. Finally, there are some procedures that can be done to treat GERD.
Treatments for Acid Reflux/GERD
- Nissen fundoplication– surgery to reinforce the lower esophageal sphincter
- Surgery to create a barrier preventing the backup of stomach acid
- Stretta procedure– a procedure to produce scar tissue in the esophagus
- Linx– surgery to strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter