[Health Tip] Increased Overdrinking and Overeating During Year-End and New Year... Manage Inflammation

Increase in Office Workers Complaining of Inflammation
Attention Needed for Gastritis and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Year-end party (Photo by Getty Images Bank)

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Chun-hee] As 2022 comes to an end, many people hold year-end and New Year gatherings with friends, family, and coworkers to wrap up the year and welcome the new one. However, during these increasing drinking occasions, overeating, excessive drinking, smoking, and late-night snacks can be major causes of inflammation in the stomach and esophagus.

Inflammatory response is the process by which damaged cells in our body regenerate. However, if inflammation does not subside and persists, it can have adverse effects, hindering cell regeneration and causing pain. Nowadays, quite a few office workers suffer from chronic inflammation. When inflammation becomes chronic, symptoms such as a burning sensation in the chest, pain, and difficulty swallowing can occur, lowering the quality of life.

Among the inflammations that reduce the quality of life for office workers, gastritis is common. Gastritis can be broadly divided into acute and chronic types based on the duration.

Acute gastritis suddenly causes pain in the epigastric area, abdominal discomfort, nausea, and heartburn. In rare cases, severe abdominal pain accompanied by chills, fever, and other systemic symptoms may occur. It can be difficult to distinguish from acute pancreatitis or acute cholecystitis, so accurate diagnosis through blood tests, gastroscopy, and abdominal ultrasound is important. Chronic gastritis often has no symptoms. Symptoms such as upper abdominal pain, fullness in the epigastric area after meals, abdominal bloating, early satiety during meals, nausea, heartburn, and indigestion may occur chronically.

Gastritis is caused by stress, excessive drinking, smoking, overeating, eating quickly, or enjoying spicy foods. It can also be caused by Helicobacter pylori infection or other bacterial and parasitic infections. Alcohol, aspirin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are also causes. To prevent chronic gastritis, it is important to undergo eradication therapy if Helicobacter pylori infection is present. It is necessary to improve eating habits by eating slowly and moderately, avoiding spicy foods as much as possible, and eating less salty foods. Medication such as acid secretion inhibitors and gastric mucosal protectants may be required. Smoking cessation is essential, and it is also advisable to avoid coffee.

Professor Na Hee-kyung of the Department of Gastroenterology at Seoul Asan Medical Center emphasized, "In fact, it is difficult to improve lifestyle habits all at once. However, since chronic inflammation causes repetitive symptoms that lower quality of life, it is important to develop healthy eating habits and, above all, undergo regular endoscopic examinations even if there are no symptoms."

[Image source=Getty Images]

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is also a common inflammatory condition. According to statistics from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service on the 25th, the number of patients suffering from reflux esophagitis has steadily increased from about 2.85 million in 2017 to 3.15 million last year.

Food ingested by a person passes through the esophagus to the stomach. At this time, there is a sphincter that prevents the contents of the stomach from flowing back into the esophagus. When the pressure inside the stomach increases and the function of the sphincter decreases, substances in the stomach reflux into the esophagus, irritating the esophageal mucosa and causing pain or discomfort. When mucosal damage is observed in the lower esophagus during endoscopy, it is called reflux esophagitis. More broadly, GERD refers to cases where heartburn or reflux symptoms occur due to the reflux of stomach contents regardless of endoscopic findings.

The most common symptom of GERD is the reflux of stomach contents or acid and a burning pain behind the breastbone. This can improve and worsen repeatedly. Some patients also complain of difficulty swallowing or a sensation of food being stuck in the chest when swallowing. Hoarseness, vomiting, and nausea may also occur. It can affect the pharynx and lung function, causing chronic cough or bronchial asthma. It can also cause dental caries and gum disease.

Major aggravating factors of GERD include habits such as lying down immediately after late-night snacks or overeating, fatty foods that lower sphincter pressure, alcohol consumption, smoking, coffee, and chocolate. Since lifestyle habits are important, chronic management like that for diabetes or hypertension is essential.

If overweight or obese, weight loss alone can be expected to relieve symptoms. If you smoke, quitting is essential. Foods that stimulate acid secretion or weaken the function of the lower sphincter, such as coffee, cola, black tea, orange juice, tomato juice, and chocolate, should be avoided. Fatty foods remain in the stomach longer, increasing the chance of reflux, so reducing them is advisable.

When sleeping, it is good to elevate the upper body about 15 degrees or lie on the left side. Wear loose and comfortable clothes instead of tight ones, and avoid lying down for three hours after meals. Regular exercise helps, but vigorous exercise immediately after meals can increase reflux. Many patients find lifestyle changes difficult, but these changes are essential even when undergoing medication therapy.

Medication treatment mainly involves suppressing acid secretion to improve symptoms and inflammatory changes caused by reflux in GERD. Medication is administered for at least 1 to 2 months, and then maintained or reduced based on response.

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