Barrett's esophagus is a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease, in which the contents of the stomach enter the esophagus, irritating its walls. Pathology, as a rule, is formed in patients with more than a five-year history of such a pathology as reflux. Thus, approximately ten percent of patients develop Barrett's esophagus.
Symptomatics
There are no specific symptoms for this condition. Sometimes it is asymptomatic, especially in the elderly. The main clinical symptoms are the same signs as in reflux disease. Most often among them the following deviations in well-being are observed:
Heartburn, which manifests itself in the form of unpleasant burning sensations behind the sternum, as well as along the esophagus. Usually, this feeling occurs in people after overeating, eating spicy, smoked and fried foods, as well as alcohol, strong tea, coffee or sparkling water
What other symptoms of Barrett's esophagusknown?
- The appearance of a sore throat. As a rule, it occurs thirty minutes after eating, aggravated by bending over or when a person is in a horizontal position.
- Sour-tasting belching that gets worse after eating.
- Development of regurgitation in Barrett's esophagus, which is the reflux of semi-digested food from the stomach into the esophagus. At the same time, in more severe cases, dysphagia occurs, which is manifested by a violation of swallowing.
- The appearance of pain in the abdomen immediately after eating.
- Enamel thinning along with tooth erosion.
- Occurrence of occasional nausea.
- One-time vomiting after eating.
Proper nutrition
A very important point in the treatment of this disease is diet. This is not surprising, since the main function of digestion is the assimilation of food. Thus, changing the diet during the development of the disease greatly facilitates the work, reducing the load. But how exactly will the diet help with severe pathologies? Will it serve as an effective technique or will it turn out to be just a formality that will not affect anything? Next, we will talk about the impact of nutrition in Barrett's esophagus.
Why is diet so important for this pathology?
The first words that patients hear at the beginning of their treatment from a gastroenterologist is that it is extremely important to eat right. From the moment the diagnosis is established, the next period in the patient's life begins, on which his future directly depends.well-being and he alth status. In this regard, absolutely everyone is concerned about the vital issue related to how desirable it is to follow medical recommendations regarding nutrition and how products will affect the course of the disease.
It is important to note that the Barrett's esophagus diet is not just a recommendation. Of course, certain foods will not affect the degeneration of an atypical esophageal epithelial cell to a normal one, therefore, unlike other pathologies, in this case, proper nutrition is not the basis of treatment, but nevertheless it performs very important functions:
- By reducing the consumption of aggressive products for the esophagus, the patient thus minimizes the risk of further progression of the pathology.
- He althy meals in the diet will make it possible to avoid certain complications.
- There is an additional reduction in the load on the digestive organs, thereby increasing the likelihood of better absorption of drugs.
Remove the causes of disease
As such, the treatment of Barrett's esophagus is aimed at eliminating the causes that led to the disease. Most often it is reflux and its accompanying symptoms, such as heartburn. In this case, there is a reverse reflux of products from the stomach into the upper regions of the digestive system. By themselves, the products do not directly affect one or another altered cell of the esophagus, but they are able to reduce the number of refluxes by acting on the acidity of gastric juice, which leads toto the replacement of normal intestinal epithelium.
How to cure Barrett's esophagus is interesting to many.
Eating rules for sickness
The entire period of treatment, the patient will have to strictly follow a number of some simple rules regarding not only the question of foods that should or should not be eaten. The lifestyle with the daily routine will also have to be slightly adjusted. So, how should dishes be served and what should not be done?
- Eating with this diagnosis should occur at least five times a day. It is important to consider that the portions should be small, and the intervals between meals should be at least two hours.
- Preference is required to give stewed, boiled and steamed food, due to this there will be less stress on the digestive organs.
- Fruits with vegetables are best eaten boiled or stewed. Raw and on an empty stomach - such foods only irritate the stomach and lead to an increase in the production of hydrochloric acid in the body.
- It is necessary to completely exclude seasonings and hot spices that contribute to the process of inflammation of the esophageal mucosa.
- During the period of therapy, it is forbidden to introduce unfamiliar food into the diet so as not to aggravate the already pathological process.
- Last food intake should be three hours before bedtime.
- Completely incompatible categories such as Barrett's esophagus and alcoholic beverages. Alcohol in any form should be avoided for a long time.
- You should refrain from physical activity immediately after eating, and in addition, avoid tilting the torso. No needwear clothes with a tight belt, corset or belt and so on.
- Smokers should quit.
- It is important to give up foods that the body does not tolerate well. Such food, as a rule, develops bloating and constipation, there may be loosening of the stool with nausea and heartburn.
As part of the selection of products, it is important first of all to be guided by the nuances of individual intolerance. Each person himself knows what he can and what is better to exclude from the diet.
Symptoms and treatment of Barrett's esophagus are often linked.
What absolutely can not be eaten with a diagnosis?
The list of prohibited products in this case is far from small, but they can be excluded not forever, but only for the period of treatment. What can not be eaten with this diagnosis?
- Fatty and fried food with spicy dishes. At the same time, sausage with pork, beef, fatty fish is also prohibited. Also, you can not eat canned food along with cream, cheese, high-percentage sour cream, ketchup, mayonnaise and margarine.
- Canned vegetables with pickles are prohibited. You can not eat tomatoes, radishes, sauerkraut, sorrel, fruits and berries rich in fiber, and, in addition, mushrooms.
- As a rule, millet, pearl barley, barley and corn grits, as well as pasta are excluded from cereals, with the exception of noodles.
- Not all floury foods are allowed in the diet with a diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus. Thus, you can not eat rye or any other fresh bread along with products made from rich or puff.test. For the duration of the treatment, pies should be abandoned, and in addition, cakes and chocolate.
- Drinks should also be chosen with particular rigor. Do not drink strong tea with coffee and any carbonated liquids. Among other things, store-bought juices and especially colored drinks are prohibited.
But why are so many foods excluded from the human diet? The answer is that eating like this irritates the lining of the esophagus, leading to heartburn, which increases the production of stomach acid and puts strain on the digestive organs.
Barrett's esophagus diet must be followed without fail.
What is allowed to eat with this pathology?
I must say that not everything is as sad as it might seem. In fact, it is not the products that matter, but the dishes that are prepared from them. So, with pathology, it is allowed to use the following foods and dishes:
- Yesterday's wheat bread, which is slightly toasted along with crackers, dry biscuits, marshmallow and marmalade.
- Soups-puree, first courses from well-boiled and pureed vegetables.
- Butter with milk, yogurt and cottage cheese.
- Kefir is not forbidden for Barrett's esophagus, but it can cause heartburn in some people, so you should be careful with it.
- Vegetable oil, and in addition, viscous porridge cooked in water with a small amount of milk. For this, rice, buckwheat, semolina and oatmeal porridges are not instant.
- Chicken along with veal and rabbit. Occasionally, you can cook lean beef varieties, as well as introduce milk sausages into your diet (preferably the highest grade).
- Boiled eggs and river fish.
- Boiled potatoes along with beets, carrots and non-acid fruits and berries.
Why do doctors recommend these foods?
- They do not irritate the lower esophageal sphincter or esophageal mucosa.
- Maximum enrich the body with the necessary nutrients with minimal energy consumption, which is already more needed for recovery.
- Do not stress the digestive organs.
- Prevent congestion in the intestines and stomach as well.
With Barrett's esophagus, the erroneous principle of nutrition never works: if you can’t, but you want, then you can. This diagnosis is a disease with strict rules. Of course, no one will follow these rules, but if you break them, you can lose your normal state of he alth forever.
Barrett's esophagus treatment
The disease requires urgent, and most importantly, complete treatment from a person, as it can degenerate into a malignant tumor. Oncological diseases are much easier to prevent than to try to find a treatment for them later. Let us now consider the main components of the treatment of this diagnosis.
- Diet in this diagnosis is importantcomponent of the treatment. The menu must be compiled with the help of the attending physician. With such a diet, as already described in detail above, you can not eat fried, spicy, smoked and sour foods. Food should not be hot, it should be at room temperature. Diet for such patients should become a way of life. It cannot be stopped after the surgical treatment.
- As for the medical treatment of Barrett's esophagus, it is aimed at lowering the acidity of gastric juice, and in addition, at eliminating Helicobacter Pylori. Such treatment usually consists of inhibitor drugs, which include Omeprazole along with Esomeprazole, Pantoprazole, Rabeprazole and Lansoprazole. Antacids can also be prescribed: "Maalox" with "Phosphalugel" and "Almagel". As part of the fight against Helicobacter Pylori, an individual antibiotic regimen is selected for the patient.
- Performing radiofrequency ablation. This method is the surgical removal of altered tissue using a special wave and high temperature. Against the background of radiofrequency ablation, there is no large tissue damage, and this method is considered a priority in this diagnosis. Despite the fact that radiofrequency ablation is a new method, it is widely used in modern medical practice.
- Barrett's esophagus surgery is usually indicated for those patients who have a high degree of dysplasia along with a large surface of altered mucosal cells. The operation is performed under short intravenous anesthesia. With this manipulation, excision of the affectedmucous. Also, the operation is prescribed for patients who have complications in the form of a hernia, stenosis, bleeding and tumors.
- Folk treatment of Barrett's esophagus is usually used as an auxiliary method. The most commonly used remedy is a decoction of flax seeds. These seeds have enveloping and healing properties. In addition, you can drink tea with calendula. This plant is a powerful natural antiseptic.
Barrett's esophagus reviews
Consider people's comments about this pathology. As people who have been treated for this disease say, the prognosis for recovery will be positive if timely and correct treatment is carried out for patients. Unfortunately, with late diagnosis, the prognosis is usually disappointing. Often, patients develop a malignant complication. The most common complication is adenocarcinoma.
People write that it is very important that the therapy consists of a diet, and in addition, medical and surgical treatment. The alternative technique should be used only as an adjuvant therapy. It is noted that such patients are required to adhere to a certain diet for life, conducting periodic biopsies.
We looked at how to treat Barrett's esophagus. The main thing is to strictly follow the doctor's instructions, especially when it comes to diet.
