If you have heartburn and reflux, you may be diagnosed with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). This happens when acid from your stomach comes up into the esophagus. This is a common condition, but it can be serious when left untreated.
Symptoms of GERD include frequent heartburn, nausea and trouble swallowing. They can also be accompanied by chest pain and cough. In severe cases, the esophagus can be damaged or ulcerated.
Diagnosis of GERD isn't always easy, but it's not impossible. Doctors use a variety of tests to help diagnose GERD and determine the best treatment for you.
The first thing a gastroenterologist does is ask you to describe your symptoms and what causes them. Your doctor can then do a physical exam to look at your neck, throat and stomach. Then your doctor will check the function of the lower esophageal sphincter, which is the valve between the esophagus and the stomach.
If the LES doesn't work well, food can travel back up into your esophagus, causing acid to be released. It's very common for this to happen after a large meal, but it can also occur when you lie down or are stressed.
Tests for GERD
The most common test doctors use to diagnose GERD is an acid reflux test. This is a simple, noninvasive procedure that involves drinking a liquid and then having x-rays taken. It won't detect mild irritation, but will detect problems such as a hiatal hernia and narrowing of the esophagus, which can cause GERD to worsen.
You may be given a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) to suppress stomach acid production, which is one of the most effective treatments for GERD. The PPIs lansoprazole and omeprazole have been shown to be more effective than antacids in treating chronic acid reflux.
Your doctor will also want to see how often you have symptoms, such as heartburn or regurgitation. Symptoms that are more than once a week may indicate you need to visit a gastroenterologist for further evaluation.
Medications for GERD
Your healthcare provider may prescribe medication, such as a PPI or a nitrate, to help relieve the symptoms of GERD. They may also suggest a lifestyle change, such as eating smaller meals with more frequent snacks.
Avoiding foods and drinks that make GERD worse can help. Those with GERD should reduce or eliminate the consumption of alcohol, chocolate, peppermint, caffeine and fatty or spicy foods. They should also avoid tight-fitting clothing, as this can put pressure on the lower esophageal ring and lead to reflux.
Prevention of GERD
A diet that helps prevent GERD includes avoiding large, heavy meals at least three times a day and reducing the amount of fat. You should also eat slowly and chew thoroughly.
If your GERD is severe, your doctor might suggest laparoscopic antireflux surgery or a LINX device implantation to strengthen the lower esophageal duct. These procedures are minimally invasive and can be used to treat people who don't respond to other medications.
FAQ
How can I make sure my family has access to quality health care?
Most states have a department that provides affordable health care. Some states also have programs to cover low-income families with children. You can contact your state's Department of Health for more information about these programs.
What about the role played by the private sector?
Healthcare delivery can be facilitated by the private sector. It also provides equipment used in hospitals.
Some hospital staff are also covered by the program. So it makes sense for them to take part in running the system.
There are however limitations to what they offer.
Private providers are not always able to compete with the free services offered by governments.
They should not try to run the whole thing. This could be a sign that the system is not providing value for money.
What are the three types?
The first system is a traditional system where patients have little choice over who they see for treatment. They might go to hospital A only if they require an operation. Otherwise, they may as well not bother since there isn't any other option.
This second system is fee-for service. Doctors make money based on how many drugs, tests and operations they perform. If you don't pay them enough, they won't do any extra work, and you'll pay twice as much.
The third system pays doctors according to the amount they spend on care, not by how many procedures performed. This allows doctors to choose lower-cost treatments such as speaking therapies over surgical procedures.
What are the health services?
A health care provider is a medical institution that offers healthcare services for patients. An example of a healthcare service is a hospital. It often includes multiple departments such as the emergency and intensive care units, pharmacy, outpatient clinics, and other healthcare facilities.
Statistics
- For instance, Chinese hospital charges tend toward 50% for drugs, another major percentage for equipment, and a small percentage for healthcare professional fees. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Over the first twenty-five years of this transformation, government contributions to healthcare expenditures have dropped from 36% to 15%, with the burden of managing this decrease falling largely on patients. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Consuming over 10 percent of [3] (en.wikipedia.org)
- Price Increases, Aging Push Sector To 20 Percent Of Economy". (en.wikipedia.org)
- Healthcare Occupations PRINTER-FRIENDLY Employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 16 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 2.6 million new jobs. (bls.gov)
External Links
How To
What are the 4 Health Systems?
The healthcare system includes hospitals, clinics. Insurance providers. Government agencies. Public health officials.
The overall goal of this project was to create an infographic for people who want to understand what makes up the US health care system.
Here are some key points.
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Annual healthcare spending totals $2 trillion and represents 17% GDP. That's almost twice the size of the entire defense budget!
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Medical inflation reached 6.6% for 2015, more than any other category.
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Americans spend 9% of their income annually on health.
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In 2014, over 300 million Americans were uninsured.
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Although the Affordable Care act (ACA) was signed into law, its implementation is still not complete. There are still gaps in coverage.
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The majority of Americans think that the ACA needs to be improved.
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The United States spends more on healthcare than any other country.
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Affordable healthcare for all Americans would reduce the cost of healthcare by $2.8 trillion per year.
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Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance cover 56%.
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These are the top three reasons people don’t get insured: Not being able afford it ($25B), not having enough spare time to find insurance ($16.4B), and not knowing anything ($14.7B).
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There are two types, HMO (health maintenance organization), and PPO (preferred providers organization).
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Private insurance covers many services, including doctors and dentists, prescriptions, and physical therapy.
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The public programs cover outpatient surgery as well as hospitalizations, nursing homes, long term care, hospice, and preventive health care.
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Medicare is a federal program providing senior citizens health coverage. It pays for hospital stays and skilled nursing facility stays.
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Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that provides financial assistance for low-income individuals or families who earn too little to qualify for other benefits.