1 Causes of the disease

This disease is considered one of the stages of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Gastric contents are food coma, hydrochloric acid, mucus, enzymes for digestive processes, and sometimes also pancreatic juice and bile acid. The transfer of stomach contents into the esophagus - this is gastroesophageal reflux. This problem can arise even in a relatively healthy person. But usually within a day, this happens no more than 2 times. The duration is up to 5 minutes. In the daytime, because of food intake, this phenomenon is observed more often. Most people do not even feel reflux.

To prevent such casting in the opposite direction in a healthy body, several protective mechanisms are provided. This applies to such phenomena:

• tone of esophageal sphincters at a sufficient level, both in the lower and upper( this is the muscular valves that are located at the transition of the organ, at the top - into the pharynx and below - into the abdomen);
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• self-purification of the esophagus( in this case, the reflux fluid trapped in the esophagus is neutralized);
• the integrity of the mucosa of the esophagus, it is strong enough and, most importantly, complete( in this case there should be a normal circulation of blood so that the glands produce enough mucus, as well as substances such as prostaglandins and bicarbonates, the cells of the mucosa must be constantly updated);
• rapid excretion of gastric contents that penetrated the esophagus;
• regulation and control of acid formation in the stomach.

The causes of reflux esophagitis are very diverse. Call this pathology can various factors that will reduce the effect of protective factors or completely suppress them. For example, it can be smoking. The reason can be and in excess weight. Excessive stresses also adversely affect, especially if it concerns the abdominal muscles. So if you are inclined to such a pathology, you should not wear heavy objects. Often the problem is a diet, or rather, its misuse. In any case, you can not eat sour dishes. It is very harmful to overeat before going to bed. Often the problem is addiction to alcoholic beverages. Stress and emotional stress also harm the human body. You can not wear tight clothes - corsets, bandages and stuff. They squeeze the body and internal organs, damage the blood flow.

Erosive reflux esophagitis can also cause the consequences of surgery or bougie. Also a common cause is a hernia in the esophagus. Because of the too wide lumen, the contents of the stomach go back through the sphincter. In addition, often this pathology is provoked by medications, which the patient took too long and without the supervision of a doctor. Usually it concerns agents with anti-inflammatory properties, a group of medicines - calcium antagonists, antibiotics, nitrates, antidepressants, beta-adrenoblockers, theophylline, quinidine, hormonal, sedative and narcotic drugs.

Often reflux esophagitis appears in pregnant women, but then, after childbirth, it disappears. In addition, in children such a pathology also develops, if there are abnormalities in the development of the muscular apparatus and nervous system. It is necessary to take into account and constipation, which gradually become chronic. Another reason is scleroderma.

First, the enzymes of the stomach, lysolecithin and bile acid simply irritate the walls of the esophagus when cast into it. As a result, the first symptoms appear. Then the inflammatory process develops. If the reflux regularly contacts the mucous membrane, then erosion occurs. They become in the future the cause of strictures( these are deformities of the scar type).The organ often bleeds. In addition, inflammatory processes that are not controlled can cause changes in the precancerous type( Barrett's syndrome), and then they degenerate into malignant tumors. As a result, adenocarcinoma develops.

2 Symptoms of the disease

If the patient has reflux esophagitis, the symptoms will differ depending on the form of this ailment. Allocate a non-erosive and erosive form. With a non-erosive type of disease during an endoscopic examination, only puffiness and reddening of the walls will be detected. In erosive form erosions with different lengths will be found. This indicates the degree - from the first to the fourth or a-d. Her doctor determines, depending on the degree of organ damage and the prevalence of defects. In addition, it is necessary to determine the presence of complications - ulcers, Barrett's syndrome, strictures, shortening of the tubular organ.

Symptoms of reflux esophagitis will differ depending on the degree of organ damage. The disease can proceed in a latent form, so that the symptoms do not appear at all. But most often erosive esophagitis strongly interferes with a person. All clinical manifestations are conventionally divided into extra-esophageal and esophageal.

Typically, symptoms of the esophageal type occur after overeating, late dinner, dietary intake errors, drinking alcohol or carbonated beverages, stress and physical overstrain. Usually symptoms are manifested when the person is in a horizontal position or lifts the weights. Symptoms of the esophageal type are as follows:

• , heartburn occurs in 75% of all cases;
• sometimes increases the intensity of salivation;
• nausea and vomiting;
• burp is bitter or sour;
• in the morning in the oral cavity unpleasant taste - sour or bitter;
• sometimes has problems with swallowing food( this is due to the fact that the esophagus is shrinking);
• when swallowed, you may feel discomfort or even pain.

In the epigastric region, a burning pain is felt. A person can easily be confused with pain in the heart, heart attack and angina. Then these feelings extend to the neck, thorax, the area between the shoulder blades.

All these esophageal symptoms are considered classic. They can appear all together, or only a part of them arise.

As for the symptoms of the extra-esophageal type, they are more difficult to relate to reflux esophagitis. For example, the voice becomes hoarse, there is a lump in the throat for a long time. On the vocal cords appear ulcers and granulomas. For a long time a person coughs with phlegm and mucus. Sometimes suffocation occurs. Gums can become inflamed. Damage to tooth enamel is rare. Sometimes a person feels pain in the lower part of the oral cavity. Periodically the neck hurts. Rarely does the papillomatosis of the larynx appear. From the oral cavity unpleasant smells. In some cases, the rhythm of heartbeats is disturbed.

3 Treatment measures

For erosive reflux esophagitis, treatment should be started as early as possible. It is recommended to make a correction of a lifestyle, eat right. Medications are usually prescribed. In severe cases, surgical intervention is required. Usually treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis. Hospitalization is required only in the event that severe complications are found.

Erosive esophagitis appears due to an incorrect lifestyle, so it is recommended to change it for the better. It is required to refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol. It is better not to lean on carbonated drinks. It is necessary to watch your own weight and get rid of extra pounds. The part of the bed where the head is located should be raised by 15 cm. And the pillows can not be padded - because of them the pressure inside the abdominal cavity increases. It is impossible to lie down after eating 3 hours. It is forbidden to wear tight clothes, especially belts, elastic bands, belts, bandages and corsets. You can not lift the weight. You have to go in for sports, walk in the fresh air.

A diet with erosive reflux-esophagitis is mandatory. It will help prevent the development of complications. A sparing diet is prescribed. You can not overeat, but it's also forbidden to starve yourself. Do not lean on fatty milk, cocoa, coffee, egg yolks, butter, margarine, pepper, garlic and onions, tomatoes, chocolate, mint, citrus. All these products reduce the tone of the esophageal sphincters.

4 Drug therapy

Erosive esophagitis should be treated with medications. This treatment involves the use of two directions. First, you need to use powerful drugs, and then the intensity of medicines is reduced. Then the second strategy should increase the pharmacological effect.

Drugs with antisecretory action are necessarily prescribed. They reduce the intensity of secretion in the stomach. Since the level of acidity in the body falls, the contents of the stomach does not affect the mucosa of the esophagus. These drugs include proton pump inhibitors. Also, H2-blockers and M-cholinolytics are required. The duration of the course will be determined by the doctor, but it lasts at least a month.

With erosive form, prokinetics are required. For example, domperidone, metoclopramide and so on. They can improve the motor skills. You will need alginates and antacids. They neutralize the action of hydrochloric acid.

5 Useful recommendations

Erosive-ulcerative esophagitis is a fairly common disease. In this case, the mucous membranes of the esophagus become inflamed in the lower part. This is due to the fact that the gastric contents go back out of the body. As a result, hydrochloric acid and enzymes damage the walls of the body. If you do not treat the disease, then in the places of inflammation there are erosions and ulcers.

Symptoms and treatment of this ailment is determined by a doctor, do not engage in self-medication.

But except for medicines, you need to pay attention and normalize the way of life, proper nutrition, therapeutic gymnastics.