Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease
This is an extremely common disease. Normally, a diagnosis is made after serious diseases are considered and ruled out by your doctor.
Unfortunately, if you are diagnosed with this disease, you must understand that it is a chronic disease (AKA long term). It tends to wax and wane with time, and will be triggered when the lifestyle factors are overlooked again.
Some of the information in this article is meant for family physicians. Patients can try to read the top portion only.
Main symptoms
- Burning sensation behind the chest. Can sometimes be a dull or even pulling sensation (heartburn)
- Perception or feeling of stomach contents in the throat (regurgitation)
- Painful or abnormal swallowing sensation (dysphagia)
Other possible symptoms
- Unusual chest pain sensation (make sure it’s not due to a heart problem first)
- Lump or the feeling of something in the throat (globus). Rather common symptom in the local setting
- Unexplained nausea
- Chronic persistent cough that cannot be explained by other symptoms
Red flags
The doctor must make sure that there is none of the following red flags that can be a sign of something more dangerous.
- Loss of weight
- Bleeding from stools, malena (black tarry stools) or hematochezia (red stools)
- Low blood count (anaemia)
- Painful swallowing (dysphagia)
- Chest pain (make sure it is not due to a lung or heart problem first)
Lifestyle factors
There are numerous lifestyle factors that are associated with this condition.
- Obesity
- Poor quality of sleep/insufficient sleep
- Irregular eating habits