Obesity
Obesity is a disease that occurs due to excess fat...
The digestive system, that is, the Gastrointestinal System (GIS), covers all organs from the mouth to the anus and performs the functions of chewing, digestion, absorption and excretion. The stomach has an important place in this system; It provides the breakdown and mixing of foods thanks to the salt acids it contains.
The movements of the stomach muscles ensure the production of digestive fluids and control food intake. However, stress, unhealthy eating habits, alcohol, weight gain and hormonal irregularities can lead to deterioration of the stomach muscles and valves. In other words, irregularity and deterioration of stomach muscle and valve movements form the basis of diseases.
The backflow of digestive acids in the stomach, that is, their regurgitation into the esophagus, causes chronic inflammation in this area. This situation is explained as gastric reflux or esophageal reflux. To briefly answer the question "What is Gastric Reflux?" It can be expressed as the backflow of stomach acid and food into the esophagus.
Stomach content usually consists of stomach acid, bile and pancreatic juice. If this content leaks back and comes into contact with the esophagus, it can cause ulcers and esophageal wounds, as well as narrowing of the esophagus. However, the most important point here is that the esophagus loses its self-protection feature.
There is a valve called the "lower esophageal sphincter" between the stomach and the esophagus. This gate allows food to pass into the stomach during feeding and prevents stomach contents from escaping back. The main underlying cause of gastric reflux, also called gastroesophageal reflux, is the disruption of the movements of the stomach valve towards the esophagus. These deteriorations usually manifest as relaxation. In addition, the incidence of reflux increases as a result of the increase in pressure in the stomach. Eating too much food, lying down after a meal, and excessive mobility cause reflux to occur because the valve between the stomach and esophagus is damaged or loosened.
In addition to all these reasons, many factors can be considered as the causes of reflux. We can say that reflux manifests itself especially with lifestyle, diet, eating habits, medications used, hormonal disorders during pregnancy, diabetes and weight. Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to the factors underlying the disease when asking "What is Gastric Reflux?"
It is necessary to prevent weight gain, regulate eating habits, avoid overeating, use high pillows, sit for at least 1 hour after meals, and be careful about the consumption of acidic fruits and drinks. We can say that if reflux patients follow these methods, the disease will be milder and their standard of living will improve.
After asking the question "What is Gastric Reflux?", the symptoms of the disease should be examined. The most obvious complaint of gastric reflux is a burning sensation in the front of the chest, in the area above the stomach. This condition is called “heartburn”. This burning can be felt in the neck, shoulders, back and arms in some cases. In addition, regurgitation, that is, sour water in the mouth, is the most common symptom of the disease.
Gastric reflux, which manifests itself as severe heartburn, causes a bad taste in the throat and mouth due to regurgitation. Although this condition is rarely seen after a meal, it can be felt during the meal. Symptoms of the disease usually manifest themselves during lying down and sleeping. Other symptoms of the disease include burping, abdominal distension, tingling sensation, hiccups, persistent cough, bad breath, nodules on the vocal cords and hoarseness. These symptoms are sufficient findings for the diagnosis of the disease.
Gastric reflux is a disease that can be diagnosed, diagnosed and treated. However, it is in a group of diseases that can be prevented by making a diagnosis. Today's treatment methods include drug therapy and surgical treatment. Medicines that prevent acid formation are given, taking into account the underlying factors of the disease. Surgery is preferred in cases where drug treatment does not help.
In surgical techniques, reflux disease is treated with laparoscopic operations, known as closed surgery. The damaged or loosened valve between the stomach and esophagus is reconstructed and strengthened in the light of "Laparoscopic Fundoplication Surgeries". After this surgery, the valve that causes the ulcer is corrected and the stomach contents are prevented from escaping into the esophagus. The success rate is quite high in surgeries that take an average of 1 to 1.5 hours.
Using the surgical method in the treatment of reflux provides an advantage in terms of eliminating daily medication intake. For this reason, surgical methods are preferred for those who are suitable for surgical treatment and who are reluctant to use drugs for a long time or to reduce the side effects that may develop due to long-term drug use. However, surgical techniques in general are generally; It is determined according to the extent of damage to the esophagus, severity, type and frequency of complaints and response to drug treatment. Surgical treatment is also used for structural changes in the stomach, such as hiatal hernia.