If you have heartburn and reflux, you may be diagnosed with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). This happens when acid from your stomach comes up into the esophagus. This is a common condition, but it can be serious when left untreated.
Symptoms of GERD include frequent heartburn, nausea and trouble swallowing. They can also be accompanied by chest pain and cough. In severe cases, the esophagus can be damaged or ulcerated.
Diagnosis of GERD isn't always easy, but it's not impossible. Doctors use a variety of tests to help diagnose GERD and determine the best treatment for you.
The first thing a gastroenterologist does is ask you to describe your symptoms and what causes them. Your doctor can then do a physical exam to look at your neck, throat and stomach. Then your doctor will check the function of the lower esophageal sphincter, which is the valve between the esophagus and the stomach.
If the LES doesn't work well, food can travel back up into your esophagus, causing acid to be released. It's very common for this to happen after a large meal, but it can also occur when you lie down or are stressed.
Tests for GERD
The most common test doctors use to diagnose GERD is an acid reflux test. This is a simple, noninvasive procedure that involves drinking a liquid and then having x-rays taken. It won't detect mild irritation, but will detect problems such as a hiatal hernia and narrowing of the esophagus, which can cause GERD to worsen.
You may be given a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) to suppress stomach acid production, which is one of the most effective treatments for GERD. The PPIs lansoprazole and omeprazole have been shown to be more effective than antacids in treating chronic acid reflux.
Your doctor will also want to see how often you have symptoms, such as heartburn or regurgitation. Symptoms that are more than once a week may indicate you need to visit a gastroenterologist for further evaluation.
Medications for GERD
Your healthcare provider may prescribe medication, such as a PPI or a nitrate, to help relieve the symptoms of GERD. They may also suggest a lifestyle change, such as eating smaller meals with more frequent snacks.
Avoiding foods and drinks that make GERD worse can help. Those with GERD should reduce or eliminate the consumption of alcohol, chocolate, peppermint, caffeine and fatty or spicy foods. They should also avoid tight-fitting clothing, as this can put pressure on the lower esophageal ring and lead to reflux.
Prevention of GERD
A diet that helps prevent GERD includes avoiding large, heavy meals at least three times a day and reducing the amount of fat. You should also eat slowly and chew thoroughly.
If your GERD is severe, your doctor might suggest laparoscopic antireflux surgery or a LINX device implantation to strengthen the lower esophageal duct. These procedures are minimally invasive and can be used to treat people who don't respond to other medications.
FAQ
What are the different health care services?
Patients need to be aware that they can get quality healthcare any time. No matter whether you require an urgent appointment or routine check-ups, we are available to help.
There are many options for appointments. These include walk-ins, same-day procedures, emergency department visits and outpatient procedures. If you live far away from our clinic, we can also provide home health care visits. And if you don't feel comfortable coming into our office, we'll ensure you receive prompt treatment at your local hospital.
Our team includes pharmacists, dentists and nurses who all work together to provide excellent patient service. We aim to ensure that each visit is as convenient and painless as possible.
How can my family have access to high-quality health care?
Your state will probably have a department of health that helps ensure everyone has access to affordable health care. There are programs that cover low-income families and their children in some states. For more information on these programs, contact the Department of Health of your state.
What is public health's health system?
The Health System is a collection of all activities that are involved in providing health services to a population. It covers service delivery, financing and regulation as well as education, training, information systems, and research.
What's the difference between a doctor, and a physician?
A doctor is a person who has successfully completed their training and is licensed to practice medically. A physician refers to a medical professional that specializes in one area of medicine.
How can we improve our healthcare system?
Our health care system can be improved by ensuring everyone gets high-quality care regardless of where they live and what type of insurance they have.
We should ensure that all children receive necessary vaccinations, so they don't develop preventable diseases like measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).
We must keep working towards reducing the costs of healthcare and ensuring that it remains easily accessible for all.
What does "public health" actually mean?
Public Health refers to the preservation and enhancement of the health status of the community. Public Health is about preventing illness, injury, and disability; encouraging good health practices; ensuring adequate food; and controlling communicable disease, environmental hazards, behavioral risks, and other threats.
Statistics
- Price Increases, Aging Push Sector To 20 Percent Of Economy". (en.wikipedia.org)
- For instance, Chinese hospital charges tend toward 50% for drugs, another major percentage for equipment, and a small percentage for healthcare professional fees. (en.wikipedia.org)
- For the most part, that's true—over 80 percent of patients are over the age of 65. (rasmussen.edu)
- Foreign investment in hospitals—up to 70% ownership- has been encouraged as an incentive for privatization. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Consuming over 10 percent of [3] (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
How To
What are the 4 Health Systems
Healthcare systems are complex networks of institutions such as hospitals and clinics, pharmaceutical companies or insurance providers, government agencies and public health officials.
This project had the overall goal to create an infographic to explain the US's health care system to anyone who wanted it.
These are the key points
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Annual healthcare spending totals $2 trillion and represents 17% GDP. That's more than twice the total defense budget!
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In 2015, medical inflation reached 6.6%, which is higher than any other consumer category.
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Americans spend 9% of their income annually on health.
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In 2014, over 300 million Americans were uninsured.
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Although the Affordable Health Care Act (ACA), has been approved by Congress, it hasn't yet been fully implemented. There are still major gaps in coverage.
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A majority of Americans believe that the ACA should continue to be improved upon.
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The US spends more than any other nation on healthcare.
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If every American had access to affordable healthcare, the total cost would decrease by $2.8 trillion annually.
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Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance cover 56%.
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People don't have insurance for three reasons: they can't afford it ($25 Billion), don’t have enough time to search for it ($16.4 Billion), and don’t know about it ($14.7Billion).
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There are two types, HMO (health maintenance organization), and PPO (preferred providers organization).
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Private insurance covers many services, including doctors and dentists, prescriptions, and physical therapy.
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The public programs cover outpatient surgery as well as hospitalizations, nursing homes, long term care, hospice, and preventive health care.
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Medicare is a federal program that provides health coverage to senior citizens. It covers hospital stays, skilled nursing facility stays and home visits.
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Medicaid is a state-federal joint program that provides financial help to low-income persons and families who make too many to qualify for any other benefits.