Difficulty swallowing? Chest pain? This is about Esophageal Disorders

Do you get a burning sensation in the middle of your chest when you eat? Do you sometimes feel a sour taste in your throat? Or do you have difficulty swallowing food? These are symptoms that many people have, but they simply dismiss as "gastritis". However, these can be signs of a problem in our food pipe, that is, the esophagus. So today, let's talk about Esophageal Disorders.

Simply put, what are these esophageal disorders?

Okay, first let's understand what the esophagus is. We also call it the "food pipe." Simply put, this is the tube made of muscles that carries food from our mouth to our stomach (stomach). When we swallow food, this tube is what pushes the food down into our stomach.

So, Esophageal Disorders are various diseases and conditions that affect the functioning of this esophagus and disrupt its function. This can cause many problems such as difficulty swallowing food (dysphagia) and heartburn. Among these, the most common disease that we have all heard of is GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) . Let's talk about that later.

What are the main diseases that can occur in the esophagus?

There are several types of diseases that affect the throat. Some are common, some are a little less common. It is very important for you to have a little understanding of these. Let's look at them in an easy-to-understand way.

What are the things that increase the risk of developing such diseases?

Okay, now we know what types of diseases are. So why do they occur? There are several factors that increase the risk of developing these diseases.

• Excessive alcohol consumption: Alcohol can damage the lining of the esophagus.
• Excess body weight: Due to increased pressure on the abdomen during obesity or pregnancy, there is a greater chance that the contents of the abdomen will protrude.
• Certain medications: Some painkillers, antidepressants, and some antibiotics can affect the esophagus.
• Smoking: Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke can weaken the valves in the esophagus and increase the risk of cancer.
• Radiation therapy: If you have received radiation therapy for a condition such as cancer in the neck or chest area, that can also be affected.

Do you also have these symptoms?

The symptoms of throat diseases vary depending on the underlying condition. But there are some common symptoms that you can see. See if you have one or more of these.

How does the doctor diagnose this disease?

When you go to see a doctor with these symptoms, he will first ask you about your symptoms in detail. Then he will examine you. Sometimes he may even feel your throat while you swallow.

Your doctor may recommend further tests to find out exactly what the disease is. Don't worry, these are routine tests.

• Upper endoscopy: This involves inserting a small camera on the end of a thin, flexible tube through your mouth to examine the esophagus, stomach, and first part of your small intestine. A small piece of tissue (biopsy) may also be taken from a suspicious area to check for cancer cells or other diseases.
• Barium swallow: Here you will be given a liquid called barium to drink. This liquid appears white on X-rays. As you drink it, a series of X-ray pictures are taken. This allows you to clearly see how the liquid moves through your esophagus and whether it is blocked or narrowed anywhere.
• Esophageal manometry:This measures how well the muscles in your esophagus and the valve (sphincter) work when you swallow a liquid.
• Esophageal pH test: This measures the amount of acid (pH) in the esophagus. This is very important to confirm the presence of GERD.

What are the treatments for this?

Treatment options depend on your condition. Not everyone is given the same treatment.

Medicines

Often, lifestyle changes along with medications are recommended first.

• Antacids, Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), H2 blockers: These medications work by reducing the amount of acid produced in the stomach. This reduces the damage and inflammation that acid does cause to the esophagus, even if it does come up.
• Botulinum toxin (Botox®) injections: This injection is sometimes used to stop muscle spasms in the esophagus or to relax the valve.

Other treatments and surgeries

In cases where medication alone cannot control the condition, or in more severe cases, other treatment methods may be required.

• Endoscopic dilation: A procedure in which a tube is inserted and the narrowed esophagus is widened by inflating it with something like a balloon, similar to an endoscopy.
• Esophagectomy: Surgical removal of a diseased part or all of the esophagus. This is usually done in cases of cancer.
• Laparoscopic antireflux surgery (Nissen fundoplication): This is a surgery performed for GERD or hiatal hernia conditions. In this, the upper part of the stomach is wrapped around the lower part of the esophagus, strengthening the valve.
• Heller myotomy and POEM (Peroral endoscopic myotomy): These are treatments for conditions like Achalasia. They cut the muscle at the lower esophageal sphincter, relaxing it and allowing food to pass more easily into the stomach.

Complications that may occur if left untreated

If these diseases are not treated properly, sometimes the problem can become bigger.

• If conditions like GERD and Achalasia are not properly treated, the risk of developing esophageal cancer increases over time.
• Due to regurgitation, food particles can travel up the windpipe and into the lungs. This is called aspiration. This can cause lung infections such as pneumonia .
• When swallowing difficulties persist, eating may decrease, leading to malnutrition and dehydration .

Things we can do to reduce the risk

The best thing to do is to reduce the risk of developing this condition. These things will help you a lot, especially in controlling conditions like GERD.

• Change your eating habits:Instead of eating a large meal at once, eat several small meals throughout the day. Eat your main meal at least 3 hours before going to bed. Don't snack after you've finished eating.
• Avoid certain foods and drinks: Foods that are high in fat, spicy, tomato sauce, citrus fruits (oranges, tangerines), chocolate, coffee, and carbonated drinks (soda) can worsen symptoms. Reduce them.
• Sleeping position: When sleeping, keep the head of the bed elevated about 6-8 inches. This can be done by placing something like a piece of wood under the legs of the bed. Just elevating your head with two or three pillows won't do much.
• Quit bad habits: If you smoke, ask for help to quit. Limit your alcohol intake.
• Maintain a healthy weight: Control your body weight. Exercise regularly.