Understanding Esophagus Ulcers
Esophagus ulcers refer to the persistent inflammation of the esophagus. It is also known as esophagitis. If esophagus ulcers are left untreated for a longer period of time, it may lead to a certain condition, referred to as Barrett Esophagus. Esophagus Ulcers typically occur at the lower portion of the esophagus. It is not a contagious disease, which means it never spreads from one person to another.
Symptoms
If you are suffering from esophagus ulcers, the most common problem you will experience is an intense pain sensation while swallowing any food. Additional symptoms may include heart burning, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. You will experience a sudden weight loss problem. Moreover, you may suffer from cough and also develop Herpes.
If you are suffering from esophagus ulcers for prolonged period, you may have been developed Barrett Esophagus, during which the esophagus may be narrowed down so much that it will make swallowing a real difficult and painful issue.
Causes
Esophagus ulcers may occur as a result of some other health complications. In other words, if you have certain illnesses such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GRED) for a longer period of time, you are at high risk of developing esophagus ulcers. GRED refers to a particular health condition during which stomach acids enter into esophagus, leading to heartburn. In fact, this type of ulcer is quite prevalent among people suffering from GRED.
Apart from that, esophagus ulcers can occur due to the infection with candida species. It may also occur if someone is suffering from Herpes or having infection from the human papillomavirus (HPV). Individuals having a weaker immune system are highly susceptible towards developing esophagus ulcers. Certain medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen may cause this complication.
Treatments
Treatment of esophagus ulcers largely varies depending on the underlying causes. If it is caused by any infection, the treatment must involve antibiotic intervention. Esophagus ulcers may take a long time to nurse back to health once again. The duration of the treatment depend on the severity of the inflammation and ulceration. The medications used to treat this type of ulcer can bring unavoidable side effects, which may, in turn, make the situation more complicated.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) belong to the prescribed medications group. This restricts the acid production in the stomach. This causes less irritation in the esophagus area, which increases the possibility of healing the ulcer. However, this medication also offers unpleasant side effects.
Diet
Diet plays significant role in the management and prevention of this ulcer. Few foods may promote acid production in the stomach, while some may not. So you should be enough careful while selecting your diet. Multi grain bread, corn bread, oatmeal, baked potatoes, carrots, broccoli, lean meat, fish, egg whites, apples, bananas are great source for healthy diet.
