Foods that people with reflux should not consume

Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine Specialist Assoc. Dr. Salih Taurus tells you about the reflux problem seen in almost everyone these days. The digestion process begins when food enters the stomach.

The digestive process begins when the food entering the stomach mixes with gastric juices. The circular muscle at the lower end of the esophagus, medically called the cardiaesophageal sphincter, acts as a valve that normally prevents acid, fluids, and nutrients from the stomach from escaping back into the esophagus.

However, in some cases, this lid-like structure can open and close very often or become loose and stay open all the time. As a result, the stomach contents escape into the esophagus and this condition is called reflux. If reflux is left untreated for a long time, it can cause serious damage to the esophagus, pharynx, vocal cords, teeth, and even the lungs. Unhealthy eating and lifestyle habits are the main causes of reflux disease.

In what situations can reflux occur?

Harmful habits such as alcohol and smoking can cause reflux or amplify existing reflux. At the same time, other digestive problems that prevent the stomach from emptying can also cause reflux. In some cases, anatomical abnormalities such as a gastric hernia can also cause reflux disease. Pregnancy is also a factor that can cause reflux. Reflux occurs when a woman experiences increased intra-abdominal pressure during pregnancy, leading to increased pressure in the stomach.

Reflux attacks are more common after meals and at night

Reflux symptoms usually occur half an hour after meals and at night. The most common reflux symptoms are heartburn, burning pain, belching, gas, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, nausea, and a bitter taste in the mouth. However, reflux symptoms are not limited to this. Over time, frequent collisions of the stomach contents with the esophagus can cause damage to the nerves in this area. As a result of damage to these nerves, various complaints in the chest and throat can develop, and even patients with chest pain that resembles heart disease can turn to the doctor.

Because reflux complaints differ per region where the stomach contents are located. In some cases, patients may think they are having a heart attack during reflux. The main reason is the pressure, burning and compression in the chest area due to the stomach contents escaping backward. In addition, pain in the middle of the back or chest pain is one of the symptoms of reflux. However, experts recommend that patients with these complaints first seek medical advice from a cardiology department to rule out the possibility of a heart attack. In addition, acid reflux can cause tooth decay. Acidic stomach contents that regularly enter the mouth can damage the teeth.

People diagnosed with reflux should avoid fried foods and spicy foods with sauce.

Among the causes of reflux, diet and lifestyle habits and anatomical disorders may be the most important. Often, people with reflux can manage the symptoms associated with the disease through lifestyle changes. People with reflux should avoid certain food groups. Foods that are extremely oily, cooked by roasting and roasting, offal, processed foods such as bacon, sausages and sausages should be avoided. Celery, cabbage, cauliflower, tangerine, grapefruit, lemon, orange, apricot can increase sensitivity. In this regard, patients should observe themselves. Legumes (chickpeas, lentils, beans) can increase sensitivity and should be consumed in a controlled manner. Foods containing coffee, tea, acidic drinks, chocolate, spicy spices, pickles, vinegar, onions, garlic, lemon salt, broth are other foods known to increase reflux.

Fats are one of the biggest enemies of reflux. Therefore, feeding reflux patients with a low-fat diet can reduce the symptoms of the disease. In addition, obesity or being overweight are major health problems that can lead to reflux. When reflux patients lose weight, their complaints greatly decrease.

Treatment of reflux disease should not be delayed

If reflux disease is not treated early, it can lead to more serious health problems, such as esophageal cancer, in the long run. With reflux disease, treatment begins with medication. Because the first of these drug groups reduces stomach acid production, the complaints decrease. Another group of drugs are antacids, which often consist of syrups. When these syrups are drunk, they remain on the stomach contents and act as a buffer, these harmless liquids enter the esophagus before the acid and reduce the complaints. However, none of these treatments are sufficient to treat anatomical causes of reflux, such as loose stomach valves or gastric hernias.

GERDX Procedure: It is an endoscopic method of treatment used in the treatment of acid reflux, also known as GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), with satisfactory results in cases where stomach acid and food escape from your stomach into the esophagus. The GERDX procedure takes its name from the endoscopic suturing device used. It is used to relieve gastric valve laxity and thus reflux by placing two strong and stable small sutures on the gastric valve.

Gerdx endoscopic reflux treatment is a minimally invasive procedure that does not require a surgical incision as with endoscopic surgery. The operation takes about 20-45 minutes, and the patient’s hospital stay is normally about 1 day, and the patient can quickly transition to a comfortable life.

Endoscopic imaging is performed during the procedure and the procedure is completed by endoscopically suturing 1 or 2 sutures on the gastric valve. The operation is performed under anesthesia.

Anti-reflux mucosectomy (ARM) procedure

Antireflux mucosal resection (ARM) is an endoscopic treatment of acid reflux disease. As a result of this treatment, the anatomical structure (often called the “stomach valve”), which is located at the entrance to the stomach and acts as a natural barrier, is tightened and restored.

Anti-reflux mucosal resection is a non-surgical, purely endoscopic procedure using advanced techniques. There will be no pain during and after the procedure. The area of ​​the gastric valve, which is superficially removed with the ARM procedure, heals in a short time without pain and provides local contraction and tightening. This creates a new and effective barrier against reflux. This treatment is shorter than a surgical procedure and the recovery time is quite fast. Patients can start eating on the day of the procedure and return home without hospitalization. .

Prior to the endoscopic procedure, the patient is given a small amount of anesthesia and put to sleep. During treatment, it is inserted through the throat with an endoscopic device. With this procedure of about 15-20 minutes, patients can get rid of their reflux complaints for years and the chance of side effects in skilled hands is almost zero, which has increased the popularity of this treatment method today.