Living with reflux disease
Life with the manifestation of reflux disease - heartburn is uncomfortable: an unpleasant burning sensation can disrupt the usual rhythm of life. In addition, the state is not as harmless as it seems. The fact is that heartburn, in most cases, is a manifestation of gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. This is a chronic disease that occurs with periods of exacerbation and remission of symptoms.
Why GERD occurs
Symptoms of GERD occur when acidic stomach contents back up into the esophagus and damage to the lining of the lower third of the esophagus.
In case of illness, such casts are long and frequent, they lead to damage to the mucous membrane. The disease develops if the balance between protective and damaging factors is disturbed.
The protective properties include:
- contraction of the muscles of the esophagus to cleanse it;
- the protective properties of mucus on its inner surface;
- dense barrier of epithelial cells.
Damaging factors:
- aggressive components of gastric juice: hydrochloric acid and the enzyme pepsin;
- disruption of the sphincter separating the esophagus and stomach, which normally should prevent the reflux of stomach contents into the esophagus.
The triggering factors that provoke the onset of the disease can be smoking, constipation, stress, obesity, prolonged use of certain medications, overeating, and even the use of certain foods (citrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate, onions, garlic).
The provoking factors can be different, but in all cases, the result of weak protection is damage to the mucous membrane. The disease begins with inflammation of the mucous membrane. If you ignore the situation, the damaged areas are transformed into erosion and ulcerative lesions.
In more severe forms of the disease, the development of complications is not excluded - the formation of narrowings (structures), as well as Barrett's esophagus, which is a precancerous disease. The most serious complication of GERD is adenocarcinoma - a malignant tumor of mucosal cells.
Treating reflux disease correctly
For the correct treatment of heartburn, it is worth considering a lifestyle change. This can be getting rid of excess weight, excluding foods that provoke the onset of heartburn, for example, coffee, carbonated drinks, fried or fatty foods, tomatoes, citrus fruits. Advice not to go to bed for several hours after eating can also help.
Doctors believe that it is also necessary to use drug therapy, which is aimed at reducing the aggression of stomach contents that enter the esophagus and strengthening the protection of the mucous membrane lining the esophagus from the inside.
All drugs that have existed until recently for the treatment of reflux disease act only in the stomach, despite the fact that the source of symptoms is the damaged lining of the esophagus. There were no drugs acting in the esophagus.
This is due to the fact that the esophagus has the ability to cleanse itself, moving all the contents into the stomach.
The real innovation was the first esophagoprotector - Alfazox. It is able to be fixed on the esophageal wall using a special component - poloxamer 407.
Alfazox contains well-studied components: hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate. Hyaluronic acid heals damage and erosion of the mucous membrane. Chondroitin Sulfate neutralizes pepsin and reduces inflammation. Alfazox acts directly in the esophagus.
For the correct treatment of reflux disease, it is recommended to take Alfazox and drugs together, which will be prescribed by a doctor, based on the clinical picture of the disease and the characteristics of a particular patient. Joint therapy doubles the effectiveness of treatment. For a stable effect, a course intake of Alfazox is recommended for at least 2 weeks.
Alfazox is available as a fruit-flavored solution in sachets. It is applied after main meals and at night, on average 4 times a day. For a more pronounced effect, it is recommended to take Alfazox one hour after meals and refrain from eating for several hours after taking Alfazox.
Heartburn occurs in almost half of people (46% according to the Russian Gastroenterological Association), regardless of age and race. In most cases, this is a manifestation of GERD, which can be treated correctly and effectively without waiting for complications. Protecting the esophageal mucosa in reflux disease is a real opportunity thanks to the emergence of drugs such as Alfazox.
There are contraindications. Consult a
specialist before use.
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