Living with Esophageal Diseases: Signs, Care, and Relief

Esophageal disorders or diseases are a collection of conditions that affect how the esophagus (food pipe) works. 

Various diseases can affect the food pipe, causing difficulty swallowing. Gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common esophageal disorders.

Here are the common types that you need to be aware of:

1. GERD

When acid from inside the stomach flows backward into your esophagus and throat, it’s called acid reflux. It occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (that stops stomach content from flowing backward towards the mouth) doesn’t close properly.

Symptoms That You May Experience

• Frequent, severe heartburn (burning chest pain) at least twice a week.
• Regurgitation of food or sour liquid.
• Bitter taste in the mouth.
• Chest pain that may mimic a heart attack.
• Difficulty swallowing the food.

2. Achalasia

The lower esophageal sphincter doesn’t open or relax, which stops food from going into the stomach for further digestion.

Symptoms That You May Experience

• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Sudden backward flow of undigested food
• Chest pain
• Weight loss
• Constant choking or coughing

3. Barrett’s Esophagus

The esophagus becomes damaged by chronic, untreated acid reflux, which causes the lining to thicken and become red. This condition is linked with a higher risk of esophageal cancer.

Symptoms That You May Experience

• Frequent heartburn
• Regurgitation of stomach contents
• Difficulty swallowing food
• Less commonly, chest pain

4. Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)

This is a chronic allergic condition causing esophageal inflammation. The disease occurs when the immune system fights against allergens present in your food pipe, filling it with inflammatory cells, including eosinophils and cytokines.

Symptoms That You May Experience

• A baby may vomit, refuse to eat, or have issues with gaining weight.
• Older children and adults may have trouble swallowing (dysphagia), heartburn, or chest discomfort.

5. Esophageal Cancer

It happens when cancerous cells in your esophagus multiply and create tumors.

Symptoms That You May Experience

• Difficulty swallowing
• Heartburn that is worsening
• Unintentional weight loss
• Chest pain
• Persistent chronic cough
• Hoarseness
• Pain in the throat or back, behind the breastbone or between the shoulder blades
• Vomiting
• Coughing up blood

6. Esophageal Diverticulum

It is a rare, pouch-like, or sac-like protrusion that develops in the weak areas of the esophageal wall.

Symptoms That You May Experience

• It often causes no symptoms. Some of them can be:
• Unexplained bad breath
• Unexplained wheezing
• Regurgitation of undigested food
• Choking
• Cough
• Aspiration pneumonia
• Neck lumps

7. Esophageal Spasms

Abnormal muscle spasms (contractions) happen in the food pipe.

Symptoms That You May Experience

• Chest pain (like a heart attack)
• Trouble swallowing
• A sensation of food sticking

8. Esophageal Strictures

The esophagus becomes too narrow due to GERD or esophagitis.

Symptoms That You May Experience

• Getting harder to swallow
• Noncardiac chest pain
• Food coming back up
• Unintended weight loss from reduced food intake

9. Hiatal Hernias

It happens when the top of the stomach bulges through an opening in your diaphragm (the muscle that divides the chest and abdomen) into the chest cavity.

Symptoms That You May Experience

• Heartburn
• Noncardiac chest pain
• Indigestion
• Burping and regurgitation
• Difficulty swallowing
• A lump in your throat when you swallow
• Sore throat and hoarseness when speaking because of irritation from the acid

Treatments vary depending on the condition. They may include:

1. Lifestyle Changes

Avoid spicy, fatty food items, caffeine, and alcohol.

2. Medicines

Antacids, proton pump inhibitors, and histamine receptor (H2) blockers reduce stomach acid.

3. Botox Injection

Relaxes muscles in achalasia.

4. Fundoplication

Nissen fundoplication is a surgery to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The best gastrointestinal surgeon in Kolkata wraps the top of your stomach (fundus) around the bottom of your esophagus to prevent reflux (Nissen).

Home Remedies for Acid Reflux

• Follow the doctor’s advice
• Eat smaller meals
• Eat a banana, ginger
• Drink aloe vera juice, buttermilk & coconut water

Esophageal Care Tips

• Avoid eating 3-4 hours before bedtime.
• Reduce the consumption of chocolate, peppermint, coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks.
• Avoid alcohol and smoking.
• Drink adequate water.
• Maintain a healthy weight.

Most of the esophageal diseases are treatable effectively through a combination of treatments.  All you need is to timely consult a gastrointestinal disease expert or surgeon in Kolkata if you are experiencing symptoms like swallowing difficulty.

Are you looking for the best treatment and management approach for esophageal disorders?

You can contact an expert at IRIS Multispeciality Hospital by calling +91 8929579509 and get personalized treatment.

Our Address: 82/1, Raja S. C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700047 Open: 24x7

Our Experts:

• Dr. Debottam Bandyopadhyay (22 years of experience)
• Dr. Dipankar Sarkar (40 years of experience)
• Dr. Debajyoti Chakraborty
• Dr. Vijay Kumar Rai