Is esophagitis prone to recurrence?

Written by Jiang Guo Ming
Gastroenterology
Updated on September 22, 2024
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Reflux esophagitis can recur frequently. Generally, mild reflux esophagitis can often be cured through adjustments in diet and lifestyle habits as well as medication treatment, and it will not recur. If it is moderate to severe reflux esophagitis, the effectiveness of medication may be insufficient, leading to persistent recurrence. Additional factors such as dietary and lifestyle habits, including smoking, drinking alcohol, consuming spicy foods, excessive fatigue, etc., can also cause recurrence. The presence of certain diseases can further exacerbate the occurrence of reflux esophagitis, such as dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter, hiatal hernia, and insufficient gastric motility, all of which may lead to recurrent symptoms.

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Can esophagitis cause chest tightness?

Esophagitis generally does not cause symptoms of chest tightness, as the inflammation in the esophagus typically leads to symptoms of the digestive system, and does not cause disorders of the respiratory or circulatory systems. Clinically, common symptoms of esophagitis include a burning sensation, along with difficulty swallowing and pain behind the breastbone. When the esophagitis is severe, it can lead to a narrowing of the esophageal lumen, causing a choking sensation when swallowing food, and possibly inducing vomiting. The inflammation can cause bleeding, which may manifest as vomiting blood or black stools.

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Gastroenterology
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Esophagitis should be seen in the Gastroenterology department.

For esophagitis, we generally recommend that patients visit the department of gastroenterology. As the name suggests, esophagitis refers to inflammatory changes in the esophagus, which can have many causes such as diet, medications, and acid reflux, among others. Endoscopy is the gold standard for diagnosing esophagitis; under endoscopy, we can observe congestion, edema, and even erosions in the esophageal mucosa. Severe esophagitis can also present as ulcerations. Clinically, most cases of esophagitis present with heartburn and acid reflux, especially heartburn, which is characterized by a burning pain in the esophageal area. This is usually related to diet and symptoms can worsen after eating, leading most patients to seek care from a gastroenterologist. Additionally, a small portion of patients may experience other gastrointestinal symptoms such as burping and nausea. Thus, it is recommended for patients with esophagitis to undergo a thorough endoscopic examination at a gastroenterology clinic.

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Written by Zhai Guo Dong
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How is esophagitis treated?

Esophagitis is clinically common due to acid reflux and various physical and chemical irritants that cause inflammation. Therefore, we often recommend treatments that suppress stomach acid and protect the gastric mucosa. Additionally, if there are physical and chemical irritants, patients should avoid using or accidentally consuming certain medications, foods, or other chemicals that could cause esophagitis.

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Written by Ren Zheng Xin
Gastroenterology
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Can esophagitis cause coughing?

Esophagitis generally does not cause coughing, as coughing is a symptom of respiratory diseases. Esophagitis mostly causes symptoms of the digestive system, such as heartburn, particularly when eating food, accompanied by painful swallowing, and pain behind the sternum. Severe esophagitis can lead to the narrowing of the esophageal lumen, difficulty swallowing, and may also present with vomiting. Esophagitis can also cause bleeding; bleeding of the mucous membranes can lead to vomiting blood or black stools. Recurrent esophagitis causes a decrease in appetite and impairs absorptive functions, leading to weight loss.

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Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
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Can you smoke with esophagitis?

Patients with reflux esophagitis must avoid raw, cold, spicy, and irritating foods, including tobacco, strong tea, and coffee. Nicotine, primarily found in cigarettes, adversely affects the patient's blood vessels and irritates the stomach and esophageal mucosa to varying degrees. It also stimulates the trachea, causing coughing. Therefore, it is crucial for patients with reflux esophagitis to quit smoking. Moreover, these patients must strictly control their diet, avoiding overly spicy, acidic, hot, or overly cold foods. Treatment is important, but regular maintenance is also very crucial.