Many modern people have the habit of having a late-night snack. A warm bowl of congee, noodles, or rice noodles before bed is a great choice for a late-night snack, satisfying your cravings while also making you feel full. However, eating frequently before bed not only affects digestion but can also lead to acid reflux. A disease that was once thought to only affect people in developed countries has now become a modern urban illness among us, causing great harm to our health. Doctors say that the symptoms of acid reflux should not be taken lightly. People who experience stomach pain, heartburn, or acid reflux once a week have an almost 8 times higher risk of developing esophageal adenocarcinoma than the general population. Even water causes heartburn—it turns out to be acid reflux.
Xiao Wang is a frequent business traveler. Because his work is so busy, eating on time has become an almost impossible task. Every time he finishes work, it's past nine o'clock in the evening. After eating, Xiao Wang often goes straight to bed. Sometimes, he works overtime so late that he has to have a late-night snack. But recently, Xiao Wang has felt very uncomfortable in his stomach, always feeling nauseous, with a constant burning sensation in his chest. It's also difficult to eat, and even drinking water feels like something is coming up. Having no other choice, he went to the hospital for a check-up. After a whole morning of tests, the doctor told Xiao Wang that he had acid reflux, caused by his long-term irregular eating habits. Main reason: Irregular diet aggravates symptoms.
The doctor explained that "acid reflux" is a gastroesophageal reflux disease. In the past, many people thought this was a gastrointestinal disease commonly seen in Western countries. However, as living standards have risen and the obese population has increased, the incidence of this disease has been on the rise in recent years.
Director Hu said, "When we eat, food first goes from the mouth, down the esophagus, and then into the stomach. As food travels down the esophagus, before it enters the stomach, it passes through a one-way valve called the lower esophageal sphincter. This muscle is a one-way door between the esophagus and the stomach. Under normal circumstances, this valve opens when we swallow. After the food enters the stomach, the muscle valve closes again. When the muscle valve does not function properly, acid reflux symptoms occur. Due to the abnormal opening and closing of the valve, food and stomach acid from the stomach flow back into the esophagus."
The main causes of acid reflux are related to unhealthy eating habits and obesity. People who have the habit of late-night snacks are a high-risk group for acid reflux. If people often eat two hours before going to bed, the food is not fully digested, and sleeping with a full stomach can easily cause the stomach to sag, relax the sphincter, and lead to stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus.
In addition, obese people have more fat in their abdomen, which puts pressure on the stomach, so they have a higher chance of developing acid reflux. Main symptom: A burning sensation in the chest.
Director Hu introduced that the initial symptom of acid reflux is "sour burping," but it is easily ignored. Other typical symptoms include the following four: 1. A burning sensation in the epigastric region, which is what we commonly call heartburn. The sensation of heartburn varies from patient to patient. The vast majority of patients mainly feel a burning sensation in the lower part of the sternum or the epigastric region. Some patients feel pain behind the sternum, which can extend upwards. In rare cases, patients may also feel a squeezing and suffocating sensation. 2. A feeling of sourness in the stomach. 3. Indigestion. 4. Hoarseness and pain when swallowing. When stomach acid flows back into the mouth or throat, patients often mistake it for a sore throat or heart disease when they feel pain when swallowing or have chest pain. It is only after seeing a doctor that they find out the esophagus has been eroded by stomach acid to the point of ulceration and bleeding.
In addition, gastroesophageal reflux often presents with a chronic cough as the main symptom. A woman in her 40s often had severe coughing fits at work, which was previously treated as asthma. During one visit, the doctor noticed that the patient had symptoms of sour belching, heartburn, and upper abdominal pain and suspected she had gastroesophageal reflux disease. The diagnosis was confirmed after testing and an esophagogastroduodenoscopy.
Director Hu introduced that the complications of this disease include esophageal ulcers, which can sometimes cause bleeding, lead to stricture of the lower esophagus causing difficulty in swallowing, or cause the esophageal epithelium to be replaced by gastric columnar epithelium, which is prone to cancer.
Once diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease, how should it be managed? Doctors suggest that prevention is better than treatment. To reduce acid reflux, correcting bad personal habits is the best measure. If the condition is severe, it is best to see a doctor.
(1) Lose weight. Being overweight can increase abdominal pressure and worsen acid reflux.
(2) Avoid eating before bed. The symptoms of acid reflux can be improved by changing lifestyle habits, such as not eating two hours before bed and elevating the head while sleeping.
(3) Dietary control. Do not drink beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee or tea. Try to avoid greasy and sweet foods, such as chocolate and cakes, as these can lower the pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter and increase acid reflux. Also, try to avoid acidic juices like lemon juice and tomato juice, as these can irritate the inflamed esophagus and worsen chest burning and pain. It may be difficult to change the habit of late-night snacks in a short time, so doctors suggest that soda crackers and other low-fat, easily digestible foods are a good alternative to high-fat, greasy late-night snacks. Drinking a little fresh milk before bed can not only prevent hunger but also help you fall asleep, making it another good choice.
(4) Alcohol and smoking are factors that aggravate acid reflux and should be avoided as much as possible.
(5) Avoid wearing underwear that is too tight.
(6) Elevate the pillow to a suitable position when sleeping and avoid sleeping on your right side.
Acid reflux can sometimes be controlled with medication to relieve symptoms, such as giving patients acid inhibitors. However, if symptoms persist, surgery is needed to effectively relieve them.