GERD in India
Almost 70% of the people who suffer from GERD in India are below the age of 50 years.
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GERD stands for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. This is a digestive issue that affects the lower oesophageal sphincter. It causes food in the stomach to come back up the oesophagus. GERD is a very common digestive ailment. The severity of the condition depends on the extent of damage to the sphincter muscle and the amount and type of fluid being brought up from the stomach. It is rarely life threatening but it can interfere with the person’s lifestyle and ability to work. GERD can affect anyone from young infants to elderly people.
The lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) allows food to pass into the stomach and under normal conditions keeps food from coming back up. However, sometimes the muscle becomes weak or begins to relax inappropriately. This allows the stomach’s content to come back up the oesophagus. This may be caused by:
You could be at risk of developing GERD if:
The symptoms of GERD include:
In the case of infants, symptoms could also include: b
Heartburn, the most prominent symptom of GERD is often mistaken for a heart attack. One of the main differences between heartburn and the pain associated with a heart attack is that the latter tends to be aggravated after physical exertion. Heartburn is not affected by exercise or any kind of physical exertion.
A physical examination is the first step to diagnosing GERD. The doctor may also need a few additional tests such as an upper endoscopy, ambulatory acid (pH) probe test, oesophageal manometry and X-ray of the upper digestive system.
If not treated in time, GERD can cause a number of complications. As the disease progresses, the oesophagus can get inflamed. This can cause
Thus, it can increase the risk of oesophageal cancer.
The first form of treatment for GERD usually involves over the counter medication and changes in lifestyle. If this does not help, the doctor may prescribe medication to help the muscle function properly. Long-term medication is not usually advisable as it can have severe side effects. One of the cases for GERD is prolonged use of antibiotics. In such cases, surgery may be recommended. There are two types of surgeries that may be used to treat GERD. These are minimally invasive procedures. Surgery is used in very rare cases.
Almost 70% of the people who suffer from GERD in India are below the age of 50 years.
According to a study, 50% of infants between the ages of 0-3 months suffer from GERD.
Study shows that GERD usually disappears by the time a child is 1 year old.
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