Reflux

Understanding Reflux: What it is and How it Affects You

I have had the opportunity of treating innumerable patients with reflux disease and gastroesophageal reflux as a gastroenterologist at Medicana Health Group (GERD). Heartburn, regurgitation, and chest pain are frequent symptoms of reflux, a disorder that affects millions of individuals worldwide and has a negative influence on one's quality of life.

Our highly qualified gastroenterologists at Medicana Health Group are specialists in identifying and treating reflux. We can assist you in returning pain-free to your regular daily routine thanks to our cutting-edge facilities and technologies.

The Causes of Reflux

Reflux happens when the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES), a muscle that divides your esophagus from your stomach, relaxes improperly. This enables the stomach's acidic contents to reflux into your esophagus, leading to reflux's well-known symptoms.

Eating large meals, reclining down after a meal, being overweight or obese, eating a heavy meal while lying on your back or leaning over at the waist, snacking right before bed, and consuming particular foods, such as fatty foods, citrus, chocolate, and spicy foods, are some of the major causes of reflux.

The Signs of Acid Reflux

Reflux symptoms can range from minor to severe, and they might include:
Heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest that can spread to the throat. Other symptoms include chest discomfort, nausea, and a sour or bitter taste in the mouth. Regurgitation is the sensation of food coming back up into your mouth.

Diagnosing Reflux

The existence and severity of the condition are normally determined through a number of processes and evaluations during the diagnosis of reflux. The following components are often used in the process:
• Medical History Review: Your symptoms and any pertinent medical information, such as a family history of reflux or previous treatments for the illness, will be discussed with a doctor.
• Physical examination: This will be done to look for reflux symptoms and rule out any other possible explanations of your symptoms.
• pH Monitoring: During a pH test, you wear a device that monitors the amount of acid in your esophagus over the course of a day.
• Endoscopy: An endoscope is a long, thin, flexible tube with a light and camera connected to one end that is used during endoscopy, a diagnostic procedure. To study the inner of organs or carry out surgery, the endoscope is put into the body through a small incision or a natural hole like the mouth or anus.

Endoscopy is frequently used to examine the esophagus, the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach, in order to look for symptoms of damage or inflammation brought on by the reflux of stomach acid. Any more underlying causes of reflux symptoms, such as a hiatal hernia, may be found with the aid of an endoscopy.

The surgery is typically carried out while the patient is under conscious sedation, which keeps them awake but calm and pain-free. If more testing is required, the doctor may do biopsies (small tissue samples) during the endoscopy.

Endoscopy is regarded as a secure and reliable way to identify reflux, and it can give important information for creating a successful treatment strategy. Your doctor might advise an endoscopy as part of your diagnostic evaluation if you exhibit reflux symptoms.

• The barium swallow test: This X-ray exam includes ingesting a contrast material and collecting images to see how it travels through the esophagus and into the stomach.
• Esophageal Manometry: This test gauges esophageal pressure and muscular contractions.
The combination of these diagnostic procedures enables medical professionals to identify the existence and degree of reflux and provide a tailored treatment strategy to effectively control your symptoms.

Treating Reflux

Reflux is treated by controlling the symptoms and lowering stomach acid production. The objectives of treatment are symptom relief, esophageal healing, and avoidance of complications. Several of the therapies consist of:

• Lifestyle modifications: Making lifestyle modifications, such to cutting out trigger foods and beverages, dropping weight if you're overweight, and elevating your head of bed, can help lessen reflux symptoms.

• Medicines: Prescription drugs and over-the-counter antacids can both help neutralize or lessen the quantity of stomach acid. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a class of drugs that lessen the amount of acid the stomach produces.

• Surgery: To manage reflux, surgery may be required in some circumstances. The Nissen fundoplication is the most often performed surgical operation, and it entails wrapping the upper portion of the stomach over the lower esophagus to form a barrier that stops acid reflux.

It is significant to remember that the ideal reflux treatment strategy will rely on the unique symptoms and medical background of the patient.

Why Choose Medicana for Reflux?

Our highly qualified gastroenterologists at Medicana Health Group are committed to giving our patients the very best care. Modern equipment and cutting-edge technology enable us to accurately identify and treat reflux. Additionally, we always prioritize your requirements because we are dedicated to providing patient-centered treatment.

If you're a foreign patient, traveler, or expat in Turkey and you choose Medicana for your reflux treatment, you can expect to receive top-notch medical attention in a relaxing setting. We are well-equipped to deliver an enjoyable and convenient experience for international patients, tourists, or expats seeking treatment for reflux thanks to our bilingual personnel and international patient services. We try to make the procedure as easy and seamless as we can because we recognize the additional burden that comes with traveling for medical care. Our team of skilled gastroenterologists and support personnel will collaborate closely with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that takes into account your unique needs and concerns.

At Medicana, we are dedicated to provide the best possible patient care and support. Call us at +90 850 460 1010 or send us an email at [email protected] to set up a consultation if you're seeking for a reputable and skilled gastroenterologist to assist manage your reflux.