Contents:
- Medical Video: Barrett's Esophagus Advanced Imaging Options
- Causes of esophageal Barrettes
- What are the symptoms that can arise from Barrett?
- Who is at risk of developing an esophageal Barrette?
- Can the esophageal barrage be cured?
Medical Video: Barrett's Esophagus Advanced Imaging Options
Have you ever had an esophageal barrier? This disease is rarely heard but is quite dangerous. Esophageal Barrettes are conditions that make the esophageal cells (food pathways) change abnormally and damaged.
Unfortunately, this disease does not show specific symptoms at first, so it is difficult to realize. Symptoms and signs that appear even at least like people who have GERD or just stomach acid disorders. There is no other characteristic. So, what is the cause of the esophageal barrage?
Causes of esophageal Barrettes
Basically, the exact cause of the esophageal barrage is not yet clear. However, Barrett most often occurs in people who have GERD.
GERD occurs when the valve between the stomach does not function properly so that stomach acid often rises and injures the esophagus.
An esophageal barrage is a disease that occurs when cells of the esophagus are damaged and change their shape to look like cells in the human intestine. This change occurs because the wall of the shell is exposed to too much acid, which affects the shape of the cell.
However, not all people with esophageal barrels previously have GERD. 3 of the 5 cases of esophageal Barrettes do occur in people with GERD, but the remaining 2 are not yet known exactly what causes them.
In addition, esophageal barrels are diseases that can develop into cancer if not treated quickly and precisely. Damaged esophageal cells can turn into aggressive cancer cells.
Even so, not all cases of esophageal barrels will lead to cancer, depending on the condition and treatment performed.
What are the symptoms that can arise from Barrett?
There is no distinctive sign that arises when esophageal cells begin to change. So, you need a further medical examination to know whether someone has this disease or not.
Even if there are symptoms and signs, usually the symptoms are like GERD because most people with Barrett do experience GERD. Common symptoms of esophageal barrels are:
- The chest feels hot like burning
- Frequent stomach ache
- It's hard to swallow food
- Chest pain
- Vomiting blood
- Defecate black or bleed
If this happens you should immediately consult a doctor. Perform a thorough examination until it is known what causes these symptoms arise, whether it is because of GERD, or indeed outside GERD.
Who is at risk of developing an esophageal Barrette?
If you have GERD for more than 10 years, your risk of experiencing Barrett will be much greater than other people.
Other risk factors for esophageal barrels are:
- Men are more at risk of experiencing Barrett.
- Above 50 years. This disease is more common in the elderly
- Smoking or having a history of active smokers
- People who are overweight. The more amount of fat in the abdomen or abdominal cavity the higher the risk of experiencing Barrett.
Can the esophageal barrage be cured?
Although it sounds creepy and dangerous, an esophageal barrage is a disease that can be cured if proper care is taken.
Usually, the management of esophageal barrels will be adjusted to how much and severe esophageal cell changes occur.
If it is not severe enough, the doctor will do treatment to control the symptoms of GERD with drugs or actions such as:
- Surgery to strengthen the valve between the lower stomach and esophagus (Nissen fundoplication).
- Install LINX around the lower esophagus. LINX is a device that is shaped like small metal beads. This device works like a magnet to keep the stomach contents out into the esophagus.
- Strengthens the muscles between the esophagus and the stomach through the Stretta procedure. The Stretta procedure changes the inner muscles with radio waves. These radio waves will also help reduce reflux of gastric contents that are still left in the esophagus.
In the case of severe levels, the usual actions are:
- Radio frequency ablation. This procedure uses an endoscope by emitting heat. This heat will kill abnormal shaped cells.
- Cryotherapy. This procedure is done by giving cold liquid or gas to abnormal cells. Then the cells are allowed to melt, and then frozen again until the abnormal cells die.
- Photodynamic therapy. In this treatment, the doctor will inject you with light-sensitive porfimer chemicals. Endoscopy will be scheduled for 24-72 hours after injection, and during endoscopy the laser will activate certain chemicals and kill abnormal cells.
In addition to the above actions, to reduce the symptoms of GERD and the possibility of symptoms getting worse then you need to make lifestyle changes, such as maintaining an ideal body weight, avoiding wearing clothes too tight, not smoking, and not lying supine after eating.
