Acid Reflux home cures and remedies “acid Reflux” Heartburn
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Diagnosis
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A detailed history taking is vital to the diagnosis. Useful investigations may include barium swallow X-rays, esophageal manometry, 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring and Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). In
general, an EGD is done when the patient does not respond well to treatment, or has alarm symptoms
including: dysphagia, anemia, blood in the stool (detected chemically), wheezing, weight loss, or voice changes. Some physicians advocate
once-in-a-lifetime endoscopy for patients with longstanding GERD, to evaluate the possible presence of Barrett’s esophagus, a precursor lesion for esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) (a form of endoscopy) involves insertion of a thin scope through the mouth and throat into the esophagus and stomach (often while the patient is sedated) in order to assess the internal surfaces of the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum.
Biopsies can be performed during gastroscopy and these may show:
* Edema and basal hyperplasia
(non-specific inflammatory changes)
* Lymphocytic inflammation (non-specific)
* Neutrophilic inflammation (usually due to reflux or
Helicobacter gastritis)
* Eosinophilic inflammation (usually due to reflux)
* Goblet cell intestinal metaplasia or Barretts esophagus.
* Elongation of the papillae
* Thinning of the squamous cell layer
* Dysplasia or pre-cancer.
* Carcinoma.
Reflux changes may be non-erosive in nature, leading to the entity non-erosive reflux disease.
Doctors say there is now a procedural way to alleviate heartburn without incisions. Eyewitness News 5’s Maggie Carlo has the details.
