Acid reflux and burning throat

We have all experienced acid reflux. The cause of acid reflux is mostly related to the food we eat. Some people may recover faster, while others may have more serious symptoms and even have their throats burned by acid reflux. Acid reflux refers to the reflux of food into the pharynx, where the acid makes the throat uncomfortable. Many people have also experienced that acid reflux does not need treatment. Some people suffer from it for a long time, while others suffer from it for a short time, which means it is not a disease.

Acid reflux refers to the reflux of gastric contents through the esophagus to the oropharynx, and the acidic substances are felt in the mouth. If the duodenal contents reflux through the stomach and esophagus to the oropharynx, bitter substances are felt in the mouth, which is called duodenogastroesophageal reflux. It is mostly due to cardiac insufficiency and gastric dysfunction, which causes reverse peristalsis and causes acidic gastric juice to reflux into the mouth. Acid reflux is a symptom, not a disease. The principle of treatment should be to first eliminate the cause and reasonably control and relieve symptoms.

Causes and common diseases

1. Physiological acid reflux When you are nervous, overly tired, or in a bad mood, the cerebral cortex will be dysfunctional and cannot properly control the nerves that secrete gastric acid, causing increased gastric acid secretion; improper diet, such as food that is too sweet, too salty, too spicy, too sour, too cold, or too hot can stimulate increased gastric acid secretion; and some coarse grains, sweet potatoes, potatoes, etc. contain a lot of starch, sugar, acid, etc., which will stimulate the stomach to produce a lot of gastric acid; food that is difficult to digest, the remaining sugar will ferment in the gastrointestinal tract, which can also induce acid reflux.

2. Pathological acid reflux Acid reflux can also occur due to excessive stomach acid. If acid reflux occurs repeatedly or is chronic, it is called gastroesophageal reflux disease. If not treated promptly, it may cause more serious complications, such as esophageal erosion, ulcers, bleeding, esophageal stenosis, and even esophageal cancer.

3. Other factors include long-term alcoholism, spicy food preference, irregular lifestyle, irregular meals, mental stress, excessive drinking of soda, heavy smoking, taking certain drugs that are harmful to the stomach, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs aspirin, indomethacin (indomethacin), reserpine, phenylbutazone, etc., surgical operations, severe burns or bacterial infections, and genetics, which can also stimulate increased gastric acid secretion.

Differential Diagnosis

The difference between acid reflux and vomiting is that the former is not accompanied by nausea and retching. Acid reflux is distinguished from rumination in that the latter is the involuntary regurgitation of ingested solid food into the mouth and subsequent re-chewing or re-swallowing, usually occurring within half an hour after a meal and seen in healthy people who eat large amounts of food in a hurry or in severe mental illness.

examine

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy can be done to confirm the diagnosis. Esophageal pH monitoring or dynamics testing can be performed if necessary.

Treatment principles

The principle of treatment is to eliminate the cause and reasonably control and relieve symptoms. Eliminate anxiety, quit smoking, quit drinking, eradicate Helicobacter pylori, stop taking medications that may damage the gastric mucosa, etc. Use proton pump inhibitors to inhibit gastric acid secretion, such as omeprazole, rabeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, esomeprazole, and ilaprazole; and H2 receptor antagonists such as cimetidine, ranitidine, famotidine, etc. Alkaline drugs can also be used to neutralize gastric acid, reduce gastric acidity, and reduce damage to gastric mucosal epithelial cells.