{"id":8222,"date":"2022-06-14T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-14T19:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gastropedia.pub\/en\/gastroblog\/?p=8222"},"modified":"2024-05-29T16:19:23","modified_gmt":"2024-05-29T21:19:23","slug":"reflux-esophagitis-main-causes-and-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gastropedia.pub\/en\/gastroblog\/deseases\/reflux-esophagitis-main-causes-and-symptoms\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflux Esophagitis: Main Causes and Symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reflux esophagitis is a condition caused by the inflammatory process of the esophagus, the tube responsible for transporting food from the throat to the stomach.<\/p>\n

This inflammatory process causes pain and\/or burning, making the patient feel a kind of heat in the chest, commonly located on the inner part of the sternum.<\/p>\n

If not treated properly, reflux esophagitis can cause significant changes in the cells of the inner wall of the esophagus, leading to a more serious condition called Barrett’s esophagus.<\/p>\n

What are the main causes of reflux esophagitis?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Reflux esophagitis usually manifests as the sensation of stomach acid rising up the esophagus.<\/p>\n

There is a muscle, called the sphincter, around the end of the esophagus. It opens to allow food to pass and remains closed to prevent the contents present in the stomach from returning to the esophagus.<\/p>\n

This ring of muscle, when it cannot stay closed as long as necessary or opens and closes too frequently, ends up allowing stomach acid and part of the food to rise up the esophagus. This movement is popularly known as reflux.<\/p>\n

As the esophagus is not prepared to receive stomach acid, it ends up suffering irritations and inflammation (esophagitis), causing pain and discomfort.<\/p>\n

The main conditions that predispose this sphincter’s efficiency failure are:<\/p>\n