Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Digestive Disease
G.E.R.D
Condition Prevalence
Symptoms
•The feeling of food stuck behind the breastbone.
•Heartburn
•Naseau after eating
•Relieved by Antacids
•Reflux
•Dry Cough
Less common symptoms are...
•Regurgitating
•Cough or wheezing
•Difficulty Swallowing
•Hiccups
•Change in voice/ Soar throat.
Causes
Obesity, pregnancy, asthma, diabetes, delayed stomach emptying, scleroderma, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
Risk factors
•Smoking
•Eating Patterns
•Alcohol (Mixed Affects)
Disease Process and Diagnosis Methods
Disease Process
There isn’t a type of person who has G.E.R.D. its a wide spread disease that ranges from infants to the elderly, although you could say that people with a weaker barrier between the esophagus and stomach are far more at risk for this disorder.
Diagnostic Methods
Most patients know when something is wrong with there body, in this case with G.E.R.D. you may not know the correct term but some refer to it as acid reflux therefore going to the doctors and since it is a simple thing to detect with a few questions that patient learns they have G.E.R.D..
Nutrition
Spicy foods doesn’t set well in the stomach anyway, with G.E.R.D. it can make it far more serious and painful therefore cutting out spicy foods from your diet may help a lot with this disorder.
Coping Methods and Pain Management
Some things that are recommended may be...
•Over weight patients are recommended to lose weight.
•Acidic and Spicy foods should be cut down in your general diet.
• Elevation of the head and avoidance of meals 2-3 hours before bedtime.
•Also if your scenario is more dangerous and riskier T.I.F and other surgical operations may be recommended.
Treatment and Prevention Steps
In serious cases T.I.F a procedure done under anestia can dramatically help patients. There isn’t a definite prevention plan although if you stay at a regular weight and eat healthy, you will most likely not develop it from obesity.