Esophagitis
Esophagitis is a condition where there is inflammation and swelling of the esophagus. Esophagitis is caused by stomach acid reflux, fungal or viral infection of the esophagus, certain medications and weakened immune system. If esophagitis is left untreated, it can lead to ulcers and difficulty in swallowing. This can lead to scarring of the esophagus and a situation where food may stick in the area (dysphagia). Often Hiatus Hernia causes Esophagitis since the distension of the stomach through the diaphragm muscle hampers the draining of food and stomach acid. This results in the damage of the esophagal tissue. Candida yeast infection can develop in the esophagus and lead to esophagitis. It attacks when the immune system is weakened and is treated with anti-fungal drugs.
A person suffering from esophagitis has difficulty in swallowing and nausea and vomiting. There are mouth sores. Heartburn involves acid reflux into the esophagus as a burning sensation with a bitter-tasting liquid that may regurgitate into the mouth. A patient can reduce the symptoms of esophagitis by eating smaller meals and avoiding eating for 2 hours before going to bed. Avoid too much spices and acidic food and beverages. Take small bites and chew food thoroughly before swallowing. Place your head at an elevation while sleeping to prevent regurgitation and stomach acid reflux. Smoking, alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, peppermint and fatty foods can aggravate the condition.
The physician can view the esophagus with an endoscope to look for scarring and inflammation. A biopsy can be taken for diagnosis. A Barium swallow involves use of a special dye to facilitate x-ray of the esophagus and check for abnormalities. Antacids can help in reducing stomach acid reflux. Medication to improve the strength of the LES muscle can help in treating esophagitis. Antibiotics or anti-fungal drugs may be prescribed to treat the infection. Inflammation can be reduced with the help of corticosteroid medication. Surgery is resorted to in cases where there is a hiatus hernia or to remove the damaged part of the esophagus.
Gastric stapling
Bariatric surgical procedures are major gastrointestinal operations that seal off most of the stomach to reduce the amount of food one can eat and rearrange the small intestine to reduce the calories the bodies can absorb. This procedure is called Vertical Banded Gastroplasty (VBG) or Stomach Stapling. Gastric Stapling is a restrictive surgery used to treat morbid or malignant obesity. Usually stomach stapling is performed on individuals who have made numerous, unsuccessful attempts with traditional methods of losing weight. Stomach stapling involves the use of surgical stapler to create an upper-stomach pouch about the size of a small egg. The surgeon then inserts a polypropylene band to control the size of the pouch exit to the lower part of the stomach and prevent stretching. Stomach stapling severely limits the intake of patients. However, the success of stomach stapling strictly relies on the patient compliance with post operative dietary guidelines. Peptic ulcer disease
A person is affected by peptic ulcer disease when there is an open sore in the stomach lining or duodenum. When the ulcer is located in the stomach, it is gastric ulcer while an ulcer found in the duodenum is a duodenal ulcer and an ulcer in the esophagus is an esophageal ulcer. Some of the causes of peptic ulcers are H. pylori bacteria and NSAIDs like aspirin and ibuprofen. Peptic ulcers are not caused by spicy food or alcohol or smoking. But they can worsen existing ulcers. While stress and personality types can worsen a peptic ulcer but it may not be cause for one. Often chronic ulcers are due to gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Persons suffering from peptic ulcer disease feel a dull ache that keeps coming and going. Typically the pain is felt when the stomach is empty. Vomiting and nausea are other symptoms of peptic ulcer disease. In severe cases, the patient suffering from peptic ulcer disease has black, tarry stools and unexplained weight loss. There might be blood in vomit. Upper GI endoscopy and x-rays of the stomach can help diagnose peptic ulcer disease. Antibiotics are used to destroy bacteria that cause peptic ulcer disease. Antacids help in neutralizing the acid in the stomach. H-2 Blockers are medication that control the production of acid thereby allowing the body time to heal.
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