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Frank Robson

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    Upper Endoscopy: How to Endure It

    On January 29, 2009
    Categories: Health
    by Frank Robson

    Some of the methods that doctors use to diagnose gastroesophageal reflux disease can be confusing or difficult to understand. When it comes time for you to decide which diagnosis procedure you would like your doctor to use for you, it would be in your best interests to inform yourself about upper endoscopy, one common technique for acid reflux diagnosing.

    You will want to know how to prepare yourself for this procedure and what information you will get from going through with it. You can find out by reading on.

    What is this procedure exactly? An upper endoscopy will permit your doctor to see what is happening on your insides without ever having to make an incision. For this reason it is truly a marvel of modern medicine. In order to accomplish this, your physician will introduce a tube with a small camera into your throat and into your stomach. A television connected to that camera will let you doctor see if you have any abrasions on your stomach or esophagus.

    To prepare for this procedure, you should not eat or drink anything for a minimum of six hours prior to undergoing the upper endoscopy. This is common for procedures involving the digestive system.

    If you have any special circumstances like an allergy to a certain medication or some kind of unique condition, you need to tell you doctor about this in a conversation the two of you have before he conducts the procedure.

    Recovery time after an upper endoscopy is not long or difficult. Doctors will take note of the condition of your throat after the procedure and will most likely want to keep you under observation until the medication you were given has entirely worn off.

    Any soreness in your throat will go away quickly. If you are having discomfort when swallowing, you may be given a chemical to gargle with. You will be able to eat normally the same day you undergo the procedure.

    While some doctors are able to give you some idea of the results of the procedure the very same day that they conduct it, the majority of physicians will let you know after they receive the exact results, which tends to take three or four days.

    About the Author:
    Searching for a cure for acid reflux but don’t know what works and what doesn’t? Visit the Reflux Renegade website for lots of helpful tips & advice about the causes, symptoms and treatments for acid reflux, heartburn and GERD.

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    Acid Reflux: Complications

    On August 21, 2008
    Categories: Diseases and Conditions
    by Frank Robson

    Unfortunately, acid reflux disease can eventually become a much more serious, potentially life threatening problem if it is allowed to continue untreated.

    The long term effects of acid reflux disease can potentially be quite serious. The esophagus can become scarred because highly acidic stomach fluids flush into it and burn its walls. As food continues to be digested it causes further damage to the esophageal walls and contractions by the muscles of the esophagus begin to weaken and slow down.

    Even if babies and young children do not vomit despite their suffering from acid reflux disease, the acidic contents of their stomach might still be entering their windpipe, subsequently damaging the lungs. This could potentially lead to pneumonia, asthma, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). If a child does vomit as a result of their acid reflux their growth could be stunted.

    Stomach fluids that reflux into the esophagus damage the cells lining the esophagus. The body typically then reacts with inflammation and this is called Erosive Esophagitis. .

    Ulcers and the additional associated inflammation gives rise to bleeding into the esophagus. Sometimes, the bleeding can be severe and may cause severe anemia and require transfusions of blood and endoscopic or surgical treatments.

    Ulcers and scar tissue make the food pipe narrower, making it difficult to swallow, causing wheezing and gasping for breath, and preventing normal digestion of food.

    Finally, a long standing scarred and ulcerated Esophagus, constantly awash with gastric acid reflux, often causes a change for the worse, in the nature of the cells lining the Esophageal wall. These cells then become pre-cancerous, and finally cancerous. This condition is referred to as Barrett’s esophagus, which occurs in approximately 10% of patients with Acid Reflux. Today, we find an increase in the frequency of those diagnosed with Barrett’s Esophagus.

    Finally, there are a bunch of nerves in the lower part of the Esophagus, which get disturbed by the Acid Reflux flushing back. This sometimes result in a pain we call heartburn; other times, these nerves transmit the disturbance to some other nerves, that cause constriction of the lung airways, and cough, causing the patient to get breathless.

    About the Author:
    Are you looking for a cure for acid reflux but don’t know what works and what doesn’t? Check out the Reflux Renegade website for lots of helpful tips & advice about the symptoms, causes and remedies for acid reflux, heartburn and GERD.

    Read More | No Comments →