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What is Acid Reflux or Heart Burn?

Heartburn is a burning feeling in the chest caused by stomach acid travelling up towards the throat (acid reflux).

If it keeps happening, it’s called gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).

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If you have Acid reflux for long term it can lead to serious conditions like esophagitis, strictures, Barrett’s oesophagus leading to Esophageal cancer.

Don’t ignore long term acid exposure, as these can be avoided by either taking medication, sometimes need investigations like endoscopy to access the early changes of oesophageal cancer.

You need expert opinion on Reflux disease, book an appointment with Dr Puli.

Causes of Heart Burn/ Acid Reflux

  • certain food and drink – such as coffee, alcohol, chocolate and fatty or spicy foods
  • being overweight
  • smoking
  • pregnancy
  • stress and anxiety
  • some medicines, such as anti-inflammatory painkillers (like ibuprofen)
  • a hiatus hernia – when part of your stomach moves up into your chest
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Acid Reflux causing Peptic Stricture

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Esophgeal Cancer from Acid Reflux- Stent Placement

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What are the lifestyle modifications to help the Heart Burn?

Do’s

Eat smaller, more frequent meals

raise the head end of the bed byb 10 to 20cm

try to lose weight, if your over weight

Don’t

don’t have food or drink that triggers your symptoms

don’t eat within 3 or 4 hours of bed time

don’t wear clothes that are tight around your waist

don’t smoke/ don’t drink too much alcohol

don’t stop taking any prescribed medicine without speaking to a doctor first

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Heart-burn
Heart-burn

Complications of Acid Reflux

Esophagitis

Esophagitis is a inflammation of the food pipe from acid exposure leading to the symptoms of chest pain or burning sensation in the chest.

Esophagitis can cause problems with swallowing and leads to scarring called peptic stricture.

Acid reflux can also cause chronic cough, change in the voice and water brush.

Peptic Stricture

Chronic Acid exposure in the gullet can cause esophagitis and scarring in the gullet leading to narrowing of the food pipe and food feels stuck leading to aspiration, weight loss.

Dr Puli specialises in treating Peptic stricture and even used Novel techniques called Bougie cap dilatation for peptic structure.

Barrett's Esophagus

Barrett’s oesophagus is a medical condition where some of the cells in your oesophagus grow abnormally.

If you have Barrett’s oesophagus you are slightly more likely to get oesophageal cancer. But this is not common. It is sometimes called a pre-cancerous condition.

Barrett’s oesophagus often does not have any symptoms. But you may have symptoms of indigestion and heartburn.

Dr Puli specialises in diagnosing and managing Barrett’s esophagus.

Esophageal Cancer

  • Oesophageal cancer is a cancer that’s found anywhere in the oesophagus, sometimes called the gullet or food pipe

    Main symptoms of oesophageal cancer

    There are many possible symptoms of oesophageal cancer, but they might be hard to spot.

    They can affect your digestion, such as:

    Other symptoms include:

    • a cough that is not getting better
    • a hoarse voice
    • loss of appetite or losing weight without trying to
    • feeling tired or having no energy
    • pain in your throat or the middle of your chest, especially when swallowing

    If you have another condition, such as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, you may get symptoms like these regularly.

    Dr Puli specialises in diagnosing and managing Esophageal cancer

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WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR

  • problems swallowing
  • lost a noticeable amount of weight over the last 6 to 12 months without trying
  • other symptoms of oesophageal cancer that get worse or do not get better after 2 weeks
  • a condition that causes symptoms with your digestion that are not getting better after 2 weeks of using your usual treatments
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TESTS AND DIAGNOSIS

Gastroscop

This test is called a gastroscopy (a type of endoscopy). It looks for any problems in your oesophagus or stomach, including oesophageal cancer.

During a gastroscopy:

  1. A long, thin, flexible tube with a small camera inside (called an endoscope) will be put into your mouth and down your oesophagus.
  2. A specialist will use the camera in the endoscope to look for any problems.
  3. A small sample of cells (called a biopsy) may be collected during the procedure. These cells will be sent to a laboratory to check for cancer.

The test should take around 10 to 15 minutes.

It should not be painful, but you might find it uncomfortable.

You may be offered things to make you more comfortable and make the test easier, such as:

  • a spray to numb the back of your throat (local anaesthetic)
  • sedation – medicine given through a small tube in your arm to help you relax
  • putting you to sleep (general anaesthetic)

A gastroscopy can also help find problems in other nearby organs. Such as your stomach and the first part of the bowels (small intestine).

Other tests include..

CT scan, PET scan, Endoscopic Ultrasound.

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Should you worry?

  • problems swallowing
  • lost a noticeable amount of weight over the last 6 to 12 months without trying
  • other symptoms of oesophageal cancer that get worse or do not get better after 2 weeks
  • a condition that causes symptoms with your digestion that are not getting better after 2 weeks of using your usual treatments

Above symptoms are suggestive of potential cancer, so make an urgent appointment with the specialist.

Dr Puli specialises in managing these conditions.

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anaemia
Anaemia

Don’t ignore long term Acid Reflux symptoms, it could lead to Esophgeal cancer.

Need Expert opinion on Acid Reflux, contact Dr Puli

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Prevention Tips


Common prevention tips to control symptoms of Acid Reflux.

Eat small quantities but frequent

Don’t eat very late in the evening

Avoid smoking and Alcohol

Avoid spicy and acid foods

Raise the head end of the bed 

Eat alteast 3 to 4 hours before bed time