Over 15 million people deal with esophagitis, which is an inflammation and tissue damage of the esophagus. The main cause of esophagitis is the reflux of acid contents in the stomach, which is generally caused by a malfunction of the cardiac sphincter. The cardiac sphincter is a band of muscle fibers that are at the opening of the esophagus that goes into the stomach.
The stomach acids irritate the lining of the esophagus, and that is how the inflammation begins. The ability to diagnose this is to begin with a full patient history, and an x-ray done of the upper GI tract to determine that it is not an ulcer causing the issues. Some of the signs and symptoms that a patient will experience is a burning in their chest, which is generally referred to as heartburn. The general onset of the pain is after someone has eaten or drank something.
The treatment plan for an individual that suffers from this is several weeks of a bland diet to help reduce and calm the inflammation. The bland diet coupled with a heavy use of strong antacids is generally the first step. It is encouraged to eat small, frequent meals and to avoid drinking any form of alcohol.
There is no prevention for esophagitis, but by avoiding such things as spicy foods, alcohol, and caffeine will help to relieve symptoms. The overall prognosis is good if the patient follows the doctor’s orders. Many individuals deal with this painful problem, but with the various medicines that are available and diet restrictions they should be able to live relatively comfortably.