Life with a manifestation of reflux disease - heartburn is uncomfortable: an unpleasant burning sensation can disrupt the usual rhythm of life. Besides, the condition is not as harmless as it seems.. The fact is that heartburn, in most cases, is a manifestation of gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.. This is a chronic disease that occurs with periods of exacerbations and remission of symptoms..

Why does GERD occur?. net In case of illness, such castings are long and frequent, they lead to damage to the mucous membrane. The disease develops if the balance between protective and damaging factors is disturbed..

Protective features include:.

contraction of the muscles of the esophagus to clear it;

protective properties of mucus on its inner surface;

dense barrier of epithelial cells.

Damaging factors:.

aggressive components of gastric juice: hydrochloric acid and the enzyme pepsin;

violation of the sphincter that separates the esophagus and stomach, which normally should prevent the contents of the stomach from being thrown into the esophagus.

Trigger factors that provoke the onset of the disease can be smoking, constipation, stress, obesity, long-term use of certain medications, overeating and even the use of certain foods (citrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate, onions, garlic).

The provoking factors may be different, but in all cases, the result of weak protection is damage to the mucous membrane. The disease begins with inflammation of the mucosa. If you ignore the situation, the damaged areas are transformed into erosion and ulcerative lesions..

In more severe forms of the disease, the development of complications is not excluded - the formation of narrowing (structures), as well as Barrett's esophagus, which is a precancerous disease. The most severe complication of GERD is adenocarcinoma, a malignant tumor of mucosal cells..

Treating reflux disease the right wayFor the correct treatment of heartburn, you should think about changing your lifestyle. This can be getting rid of excess weight, eliminating foods that provoke the onset of heartburn, such as coffee, carbonated drinks, fried or fatty foods, tomatoes, citrus fruits.. Advice to stay up for a few hours after eating may also help..

Doctors believe that it is also necessary to use drug therapy, which is aimed at reducing the aggression of the stomach contents that enter the esophagus and strengthening the protection of the mucosa lining the esophagus from the inside..

All the drugs that have existed until recently for the treatment of reflux disease act only in the stomach, despite the fact that the source of symptoms is damaged esophageal mucosa.. There were no drugs that acted in the esophagus.

This is due to the fact that the esophagus has the ability to self-cleanse, moving all the contents into the stomach..

A real innovation was the first esophagoprotector - Alfazoks. It is able to be fixed on the wall of the esophagus with the help of a special component - poloxamer 407.

Alfazox contains well-studied components: hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate. Hyaluronic acid heals damage and erosion of the mucous membrane. Chondroitin sulfate neutralizes pepsin and reduces inflammation. Alfazox acts directly in the esophagus.

For the correct treatment of reflux disease, it is recommended to take Alfazox together with drugs that the doctor will prescribe, based on the clinical picture of the disease and the characteristics of a particular patient.. Joint therapy doubles the effectiveness of treatment. For a sustainable effect, a course of Alfazox is recommended for at least 2 weeks..

Alfazox is available as a fruit-flavoured solution in sachets.. It is applied after the main meals and at night, on average 4 times a day..

For a more pronounced effect, it is recommended to take Alfazox one hour after eating and refrain from eating for several hours after taking Alfazox.

Heartburn occurs in almost half of people, regardless of age or race.. In most cases, this is a manifestation of GERD, which can be properly and effectively treated without waiting for complications to appear.. Protecting the esophageal mucosa in reflux disease is a real possibility thanks to the emergence of drugs such as Alfazox.

There are contraindications. Before use, consult with a specialist.

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