Reflux is the spontaneous escape of stomach contents into the esophagus.
Reflux disease is when the stomach contents escape into the esophagus, the patient does not have any complaints (for example, burning in the esophagus tracing, pain, bitter water in the mouth). etc) and/or damage the inner surface of the esophagus. To qualify as a disease, it must cause a complaint and/or damage.
What findings are seen in reflux patients? What are the typical and atypical reflux findings?
Reflux disease can present with different findings. These findings are divided into two as typical and atypical reflux findings.
Typical reflux findings; It is a feeling of being stuck in the esophagus if there is souring, burning, bitter water in the mouth, painful swallowing or stenosis due to reflux in the esophagus trace. Although it is less common, sometimes reflux patients may present with burping or hiccups.
Atypical reflux findings are; dry cough, bad breath, recurrent sinusitis, hoarseness, chest pain (sometimes mimicking a heart attack), sleep apnea (temporary cessation of breathing during sleep), asthma.
If a patient resembles a heart attack If there is severe chest pain, if the patient's electrocardiography, blood tests related to heart attack and angiography are normal, reflux disease should also be considered in the differential diagnosis. or especially if asthma attacks occur at night, reflux disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis.
What are the causes of reflux?
One of the most important reasons for the occurrence of reflux disease is the insufficiency of a valve at the lower end of the esophagus. Essentially, the main task of this valve is to prevent stomach contents from escaping into the esophagus. When this valve is insufficient or loose, the stomach contents escape into the esophagus, causing some complaints in the patient and damage to the inner layer of the esophagus. Sometimes the drugs used cause reflux by loosening the lid at the lower end of the esophagus.
One of the most important reasons for reflux is diet. Oily, very tomato paste, very spicy foods, heavy meals, consuming too much tea and coffee, too much feed Additional meals, carbonated drinks can also trigger reflux. Smoking and alcoholic beverages facilitate reflux. Diseases that delay gastric emptying, esophageal muscle diseases, hiatus hernia, popularly known as gastric hernia (the displacement of the stomach, which should actually be in the abdominal cavity towards the chest cavity due to some anatomical disorders), also facilitates the development of reflux.
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