Throat Irritation and Acid Reflux from GERD... Need to Change 'Lifestyle Habits' [MZ Generation Health Care]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Job seeker Kim (26 years old) was first diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) 8 years ago during his repeat year of college entrance exams when he visited a hospital due to a scratchy throat. Although he seemed to recover quickly after taking prescribed medication, the esophagitis began to recur periodically during his university life and internship. Kim, who visited the hospital once last year and this year due to esophagitis, sighed, saying, "Whenever I am stressed, symptoms such as a sore throat and indigestion persist," and added, "Now I think of it as a lifelong condition."

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a concept that includes reflux esophagitis accompanied by inflammation as well as cases showing symptoms of acid reflux without confirmed inflammation. The contents of the stomach reflux and irritate the esophageal mucosa, causing uncomfortable symptoms. Symptoms include heartburn, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and a foreign body sensation in the throat.

The number of young patients suffering from GERD, like Kim, is increasing every year. According to data from the National Health Insurance Service, the number of GERD patients in their 20s and 30s steadily increased over five years until 2020. The number of GERD patients in their 20s rose from 339,737 in 2016 to 420,760 in 2020. For those in their 30s, it increased from 493,491 in 2016 to 523,930 in 2020.

Poor lifestyle habits are cited as causes. Caffeinated beverages such as coffee, carbonated drinks, and smoking increase abdominal pressure or weaken the esophageal sphincter, stimulating esophageal reflux. Eating late-night snacks or lying down immediately after eating can also trigger reflux disease. Stress is also one of the factors that cause acid reflux.

As seen in Kim’s case, who continuously experiences esophageal symptoms after the initial onset, GERD is a disease prone to recurrence depending on lifestyle habits. Therefore, correcting the lifestyle habits that cause the disease is important to prevent GERD. Professor Choi Yoon-yi of the Department of Gastroenterology at Health Insurance Ilsan Hospital said, "If someone experiences symptoms after drinking a lot of coffee, they should avoid it and other triggering factors," adding, "It is recommended to avoid lying down or sitting immediately after meals, and to engage in regular exercise, quit smoking, and abstain from alcohol."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.