gastric reflux( heartburn)

Question 1

what is heartburn?

Answer 1

acidic contents of stomach escape back into the oesophagus due to weakened or malfunctioned sphincter.

Question 2

symptoms of heartburn

Answer 2

severe pain in upper chest, acid taste in mouth, stabbing pain, burning in back of throat, excess acid, burning pain rising up throat.

Question 3

gastric reflux causes

Answer 3

eating fatty foods, chocolate, alcohol,coffee and smoking. lifting or bending from waist. pregnant women and dyspepsia.

Question 4

danger signals of heartburn

Answer 4

pain radiating down arm (cardiac), pain disturbs sleep ( peptic ulcer), over 50+ with new or worsening symptoms (cancer), bleeding, weight loss, anaemia, pain or difficulty swallowing, vomiting, breathlessness, regular symptoms ( more than twice a week).

Question 5

causes of chest pain

Answer 5

acid reflux can produce chest cramps that can radiate to neck, shoulder and arm. angina can cause intense crushing which radiates to jaw and arm. heart attack can cause crushing pain with nausea, vomiting shortness of breath, ashy skin, clamminess and sweating.

Question 6

symptoms of oesophagitis

Answer 6

difficulty in swallowing, pain on swallowing, blood stained vomit or stools

Question 7

symptoms of duodenal ulcers

Answer 7

hunger pains, relief by eating and then recurring hours after, causes sufferes to wake, blood stained vomit or stools

Question 8

symptoms of a peptic ulcers

Answer 8

localised in pain, nausea, worse after food, salivation, loss of appetite, weight loss and bloating

Question 9

symptoms of gastric cancer

Answer 9

weight loss, loss of appetite, anaemia and blood in stools or vomit

Question 10

treatments for heartburn and indigestion

Answer 10

raising bed, stopping smoking and reducing alcohol and caffeine intake, cutting out spicy oily foods,antacids,alginates, controlling stomach acid and proton pump inhibitors.

Question 11

what are antacids?

Answer 11

work by neutralising excess acid in the stomach

Question 12

types of antacids

Answer 12

magnesium salts, aluminium salts, sodium salts and calcium salts.

Question 13

magnesium salts

Answer 13

tends to cause diarrhoea although long acting and very effective

Question 14

aluminium salts

Answer 14

lines the stomach and acts as a mechanical barrier to the acid. tends to cause constipation so combining this and magnesium cancels the problem out.

Question 15

sodium salts

Answer 15

fast but short acting. may cause wind for relief, should be avoided by those with kidney problems, heart problems,and high blood pressure. pregnant women can use but only through recommendation.

Question 16

calcium salts

Answer 16

fast acting and long acting. can cause constipation and rebound excess acid with high doses. tabs should be chewed or sucked and needs to be a gap of at least two hours between taking antacids and medications.

Question 17

what are alginates ( rafting agents) ?

Answer 17

when alginates come into contact with stomach acid, they produce a thick substance that floats on the surface of stomach contents preventing them from escaping back up the oesophagus.

Question 18

alginates - gaviscon or peptac

Answer 18

take after food, medications should always be taken before otherwise action will be delayed. less effective when people are laying down. safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding. cautions with kidney problems, heart problems and high bp.

Question 19

ways to control stomach acid

Answer 19

ranitidine

Question 20

what is ranitidine?

Answer 20

h2 agonist. effective at reducing the production of stomach acid. can last up tp 12 hours so good for night symptoms. 16+. used for max of 14 days. max dose of 4 tabs.

Question 21

types of proton pump inhibitors

Answer 21

omeprazole, pantoprazole and esomeprazole.

Question 22

what is a proton pump inhibitor?

Answer 22

interferes with the way stomach acid is produced by the body. they stop the parietal cell from producing hydrochloric acid

Question 23

how to take omeprazole

Answer 23

initial dose is 2 10mg tabs taken twice daily, usually in the morning. can be used for four weeks without a prescription.

Question 24

how to take pantoprazole

Answer 24

20mg tab once daily. may take 3-7 days for full effects. can be used for two weeks without a prescription. not suitable for pregancy, breastfeeding. 18+

Question 25

how to take esomeprazole

Answer 25

18+. not suitable in pregnancy or breastfeeding. available as 20mg tab once daily for 14 days. may take 2-3 days for full effect. can be taken for two weeks without a prescription.