University of Hong Kong recently do a survey, about 10% of the people of Hong Kong have a monthly esophageal acid reflux cases where researchers to investigate projections, it is estimated that there are about 600,000 people suffering from acid reflux.
"Acid reflux" is gastroesophageal reflux disease (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) commonly known as the English abbreviation for GERD. Past the medical profession believe that this is the Western European countries generally only visible gastrointestinal diseases, it is estimated that there are approximately 44% of Americans have the disease. However, with the life of Westernization, obesity population in the past 20 years, this disease in the Asian region has been the incidence of rising trend.
Leslie Cheung, recently committed suicide in Hong Kong artist, had his injuries because acid reflux and throat, the throat due to the acidity of the gastric acid serious burns, affecting singing career, and has therefore recuperating for some time.
Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong survey of acid reflux, in November last year in the telephone interview to the 3,605 people of Hong Kong survey results showed that 8.9 percent of Hong Kong people at least once a month gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms.
The trap door is not cause normal operation
When we eat when food first mouth, moved down the esophagus, stomach and then enter. Food and go all the way through the esophagus, stomach to enter, will be a single through the trap door, called the esophageal sphincter bottom, which is a muscle between the stomach and esophagus a one-way trap door (see left).
Under normal circumstances, when we swallow, this will open the door live. In the food into the stomach, this muscle will be close to the trap door. When the trap door muscle is not working, then they will have acid reflux symptoms. The trap door is not open for normal, making the stomach of food and eating Road Weisuanniliu go.
Acid reflux symptoms of the early stages of "vomit Stomach Qi", but is easily overlooked. Other typical symptoms include a burning sensation Xinwo and acid reflux to the oral or throat, the patient was due to a feeling of pain when swallowing food or chest Chitong often thought it was sore throat or heart disease, Onsite treatment often found after the esophagus acid corrosion has been to ulcer bleeding.
Don't eat two hours before sleep
Responsible for acid reflux survey of the Hong Kong University scholar Wang Weimin pointed out that, if people often sleep in the two hours before eating, this will result in Gastroptosia so sphincter relaxation, resulting in acid into the esophagus inverted to happen.
The medical profession that, in recent years suffering from acid reflux case is growing, the reasons for that: people's lives more and more tense busy eating regularly, eat dinner ends too late or eating habits, and then eat on the stomach Overturn big sleep, supine in bed because of the results so that acid reflux more easily.
For example, some form of professional work time because of the relationship between the often return home after 22:00 after the evening meal, less than two hours after a meal to go to bed, resulting in acid reflux.
The other acid reflux symptoms including chest pain heartburn, acid thermal properties by the throat and chest influx feel uncomfortable. Complications of this disease have esophageal ulcer, sometimes causing bleeding, stricture formation of the bottom of the esophagus, causing dysphagia, or cause was esophageal gastric epithelial columnar epithelium replaced easily carcinogenesis. Some cause coughing, hoarseness or asthma attack.
High risk of suffering from esophageal adenocarcinoma
Sweden past studies have shown that medical personnel, who often stomach or acid reflux, suffering from risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma is higher than those of ordinary people, while taking acid reduction of the incidence of cancer is not effective.
The researchers say, acid reflux symptoms can not be overlooked. According to research found that once a week stomach pain, heartburn (heartburn), or acid reflux symptoms, the risk of suffering from esophageal adenocarcinoma than those of ordinary people nearly eight times higher.
The researchers said that esophageal adenocarcinoma of the esophagus in a serious, long suspected to be acid stimulated, making esophageal lesions produced by the cells.
Improve sleep habits
Acid reflux disease can be passed to change to improve the living habits, such as sleeping two hours before not to eat, sleep, boosted his head.
One responsible for the investigation of the University of Hong Kong scholars Lijinquan on reminding patients, we must reduce the consumption of esophageal mucosa to stimulate food such as alcohol, coffee and fatty food.
Acid reflux can sometimes through drug control nausea symptoms, such as to patients taking acid reducers, but if the symptoms persist, they need surgery method can effectively relieve symptoms.
Acid reflux disease of modern civilization is one, this awareness of the most important is how to correct diagnosis and appropriate medications, it may be in some sequelae such as esophageal ulcers, tumors or esophageal stenosis distal to closely track.