Conditions

How is GERD diagnosed? Medical History Your doctor will begin assessing you for GERD by reviewing your symptoms. If you are frequently experiencing classic GERD symptoms, your doctor can diagnose you on that basis. The two most common symptoms are: Heartburn.  Regurgitation Lab tests People with severe symptoms may need to undergo tests that can both verify GERD and help doctors assess the scope of the problem. These tests include: Barium X-rays: The patient is asked to drink barium…

What are the symptoms of GERD? A burning sensation in your chest (heartburn), sometimes spreading to your throat, along with a sour taste in your mouth When acid refluxes into the esophagus in patients with GERD, nerve fibers in the esophagus are stimulated, causing the pain that is characteristic of GERD. Heartburn usually is described as a burning pain in the middle of the chest. It may start high in the abdomen and may extend up into the neck.  Chest pain In some patients, the pain may…

Risk factors for developing GERD are Obesity Pregnancy Smoking Spicy foods Acidic fruits and vegetables, like citrus or tomatoes Alcohol Garlic and onions Fried foods, or heavily fatty foods Causes of GERD are Lower esophageal sphincter abnormalities: When you swallow, the lower esophageal sphincter — a circular band of muscle around the bottom part of your esophagus — relaxes to allow food and liquid to flow down into your stomach. Then it closes again, so that the food cannot go back…

What is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)? Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a digestive disorder. Gastroesophageal refers to the stomach and esophagus (food pipe). Reflux means to flow back or return. Gastroesophageal reflux is a condition in which the contents of the stomach (in liquid form) backs up or refluxes into the esophagus. The regurgitated liquid usually contains acid and pepsin that are produced by the stomach. (Pepsin is an enzyme that begins the digestion of proteins…

Other associated diseases  Patients with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and their genetically connected relations are at increased risk of developing the following disorders:  Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (insulin-requiring)  Graves’ disease (goiter and hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid)  Rheumatoid arthritis  Pernicious anaemia (inability to absorb vitamin B12, potentially causing anaemia and neurologic problems)  Addison’s disease (adrenal failure; the adrenal gland…

In addition to the various treatment options, lifestyle changes are also recommended: Diet: Having the right amount of iodine is important for thyroid hormone production. And too little is the most common cause of hypothyroid problems worldwide. But iodine supplementation is not the answer in Hashimoto’s disease. In fact, it worsens the condition. What you need is a healthy diet with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats to build strength. Eating three healthy…

Medication Hashimoto’s thyroiditis responds well to treatment. It is treated with a single daily tablet of levothyroxine. This is a man-made form of T4 thyroid hormone. It is also called thyroid replacement therapy because it restores back to normal the T4 that the damaged thyroid can no longer make. It usually needs to be taken for the rest of a person’s life. Follow-up treatment After you start your medication, you will need a follow-up TSH test so your doctor can fine-tune your dose. The…

What tests do you need to have done The doctor will conduct some of the following:  Physical examination to identify goiter and other physical signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism.  Laboratory tests may check the following: Antithyroid Antibodies: These are proteins produced by our immune system that destroy thyroid tissue. Increased antithyroid antibodies provide the most specific laboratory evidence of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, but they are not present in all cases.  TSH (…

Symptoms Many people with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis have no symptoms for years. An enlarged thyroid, called a goiter, is often the first sign of disease. The goiter may cause the front of the neck to look swollen. If large, it may cause a feeling of fullness in the throat or make it hard to swallow. It rarely causes pain. Hashimoto’s disease progresses slowly, leading to a drop in thyroid hormones. Symptoms of an underactive thyroid include: Fatigue  (a state of physical and/or mental…