From the experts: Acid reflux
The condition affects about one in 10 Hongkongers.
With the Lunar New Year just around the corner comes another round of festive bingeing and drinking. If you experience indigestion, bloating, a burning sensation in the chest, an acid taste in the mouth, or vomiting, you could be suffering from gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, or Gord.
The condition affects about one in 10 Hongkongers.
Gord develops when the reflux of stomach contents causes troublesome symptoms and/or complications. This happens when the normal anti-reflux mechanisms between the stomach and the oesophagus are not functioning properly or cannot cope with the increased backflow.
The backflow of this acid from the stomach to the oesophagus is the cause of the symptoms described above. However, atypical symptoms can also occur, such as a chronic cough, sore throat and hoarseness.
The classic reflux symptoms are usually bothersome and may also affect sleep. Studies have shown that Gord can result in a 10 per cent productivity loss at work. Prolonged exposure of the oesophagus to acid may even predispose one to the risk of oesophageal cancer.
If you suspect you have Gord, you may want to adopt a healthy diet and lifestyle changes. You should avoid overeating, binge drinking and irregular meal times. Certain foods that you may love, including chocolates, coffee, alcohol and other fatty foods, are known to precipitate reflux symptoms, too. You don't necessarily have to avoid them entirely, just eat them in moderation.
Maintaining a healthy weight is always beneficial and may even improve the reflux symptoms.
If symptoms persist or recur despite all these measures, then it is time to see a doctor. He may prescribe medication or recommend a gastroscopy. This involves inserting a long thin fibre optic tube through your mouth to the stomach. Your throat will be sprayed with a local anaesthetic or you may be lightly sedated for the simple five-minute procedure.
The gastroscopy can tell whether your symptoms are due to reflux disease or to other problems, including peptic ulcers or infection. If the diagnosis is still uncertain, further investigations to monitor and document acid reflux over 24 to 48 hours may be offered.
There is no permanent cure for Gord (short of surgery in some cases) as many factors can precipitate or aggravate the reflux symptoms. But adopting a good diet and lifestyle, and avoiding overeating or bingeing on alcohol will go a long way to preventing or reducing them.
So think again before you reach for that extra portion or that next round of drinks.
Dr Yim Heng Boon is a senior consultant gastroenterologist at Yim Gastroenterology Liver and Endoscopy Centre at Mount Elizabeth Novena Specialist Centre, Singapore
