What should you avoid eating if you have esophagitis?

Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 15, 2024
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There are many foods that should be avoided with esophagitis, as any food that irritates the esophagus and worsens the condition should be avoided. First are dry, hard, cold, overly hot, or gas-producing foods, such as nuts, walnuts, as well as milk, soy milk, bread, and other foods that produce a lot of gas. Also, avoid smoking, alcohol, strong tea, coffee, and other irritating foods. Focus on consuming nutritious and easily digestible foods, maintain a regular eating schedule, and pay attention to food hygiene, ensuring meals are timely and in proper amounts.

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Can esophagitis be cured?

Common causes of esophagitis include reflux of stomach acid and inflammation caused by excess stomach acid. Esophagitis can be healed through dietary control and medical treatment. However, it is prone to recurrence, for example, with increased stomach acid, worsening of chronic gastritis or acid reflux, and lack of attention to diet, among other factors. Therefore, we advise patients to avoid irritating foods and appropriately consume medications that protect the mucosa and suppress stomach acid.

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Esophagitis type A

Esophagitis can be classified into four levels of severity: grade A, B, C, and D, with grade A being the mildest and grade D the most severe. For patients with grade A esophagitis, it is recommended that they pay attention to their diet and medication. Dietarily, it is advised that patients consume easily digestible meals, eat smaller portions more frequently, and avoid overeating. Medicinally, options include acid inhibitors, mucosal protectants, and medications that reduce stomach acid. The treatment course is 2 to 4 weeks, and if symptoms can be controlled, the dosage may be appropriately reduced. Clinically, esophagitis is relatively common with typical symptoms being nausea and heartburn, especially heartburn, which is the most frequent. This presents as a burning pain in the esophageal and anterior chest area, generally related to eating, and usually occurs after meals.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
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The difference between reflux esophagitis and esophagitis

The main difference between reflux esophagitis and esophagitis is that esophagitis has a broader range, and reflux esophagitis is just one type of esophagitis. Esophagitis can be caused by many factors, as it involves inflammation changes occurring after multiple factors have damaged the esophageal mucosa. Based on different etiological factors, it can be divided into reflux esophagitis, radiation esophagitis, infectious esophagitis, eosinophilic esophagitis, drug-induced esophagitis, and radiation esophagitis. Reflux esophagitis is the most common type of esophagitis, primarily caused by the relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, which leads to the reflux of stomach and duodenal contents into the esophagus causing inflammatory changes. This may be related to factors such as obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and a high-fat diet.

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How to check for esophagitis?

In clinical practice, the diagnosis of esophagitis mainly relies on gastroscopy. Therefore, it is generally believed that patients with esophagitis are advised to undergo a comprehensive gastroscopy to confirm the diagnosis. Patients with esophagitis usually consult the gastroenterology department, presenting typically with symptoms like acid reflux and heartburn. Some patients may also experience nausea, belching, or dysphagia. Heartburn typically manifests as a burning pain in the chest or esophageal area, occurring episodically and generally related to diet, with episodes more commonly occurring after meals. The diagnosis of esophagitis relies on gastroscopy. Treatment options include dietary adjustments and selecting appropriate medications. Dietary recommendations involve consuming easily digestible and clean foods, avoiding overeating, and cultivating good living habits. Medications can include acid reducers, mucosal protectants, and agents that improve gastrointestinal motility. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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What department do you go to for esophagitis?

Esophagitis is a relatively common disease in gastroenterology, so patients with esophagitis should visit the gastroenterology department. Generally, clinicians will inquire in detail about the medical history to understand the progression of the disease and the symptoms of the patient. Routine examinations typically include a barium swallow test or an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Under a barium meal examination, disorders of the esophageal mucosal folds and narrowing of the lumen can be detected. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy can reveal inflammatory changes in the esophageal mucosa. Through the results of these examinations, systematic treatment can be administered.