Question

YOU WILL CHOOSE AND MAKE A POST FOR ONE OF 3 FOLLOWING GI DIAGNOSIS: GASTRITIS, GERD, OR GASTRIC/PEPTIC ULCER. IN YOUR RESPONSE, FOCUS ON THE DIAGNOSIS YOU HAVE CHOSEN AND ANSWER THE FOLLOWING:

1. GIVE AN OVERALL EXPLANATION OF THE DIAGNOSIS AND HOW IT AFFECTS THE PATIENT.
2. EXPLAIN THE MEDICATIONS THAT WOULD USUALLY BE USED TO TREAT THE DIAGNOSIS YOU HAVE CHOSEN:
   1. EXPLAIN HOW THE MEDICATIONS WORK TO HELP WITH THE ILLNESS.
   2. GIVE EXAMPLES OF INSTRUCTIONS YOU WOULD NEED TO GIVE TO A STANDARD PATIENT WHEN IT COMES TO EACH MEDICINE IF THERE IS ANYTHING THEY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO OR KEEP IN MIND WHEN TAKING THE MEDICATION.
   3. EXPLAIN HOW YOU WOULD EDUCATE THEM ON HOW TO TAKE THE MEDICATION

Answer 1

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as acid reflux, is a long-term condition in which stomach contents rise up into the esophagus, resulting in either symptoms or complications. Symptoms include the taste of acid in the back of the mouth, heartburn, bad breath, chest pain, regurgitation, breathing problems, and wearing away of the teeth.Complications include esophagitis, esophageal stricture, and Barrett's esophagus.

Signs and symptoms of GERD: The most common symptoms of GERD in adults are an acidic taste in the mouth, regurgitation, and heartburn. Less common symptoms include pain with swallowing/sore throat, increased salivation, nausea,chest pain, and coughing.

GERD sometimes causes injury of the esophagus. These injuries may include one or more of the following:

Reflux esophagitis – inflammation of esophageal epithelium which can cause ulcers near the junction of the stomach and esophagus
Esophageal strictures – the persistent narrowing of the esophagus caused by reflux-induced inflammation
Barrett's esophagus – intestinal metaplasia of the distal esophagus
Esophageal adenocarcinoma – a form of cancer

Diagnostic methods of GERD: The diagnosis of GERD is usually made when typical symptoms are present.Reflux can be present in people without symptoms and the diagnosis requires both symptoms or complications and reflux of stomach content.

Other investigations may include esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). Barium swallow X-rays should not be used for diagnosis.Esophageal manometry is not recommended for use in diagnosis, being recommended only prior to surgery.Ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring may be useful in those who do not improve after PPIs and is not needed in those in whom Barrett's esophagus is seen.Investigation for H. pylori is not usually needed.

The current gold standard for diagnosis of GERD is esophageal pH monitoring. It is the most objective test to diagnose the reflux disease and allows monitoring GERD patients in their response to medical or surgical treatment. One practice for diagnosis of GERD is a short-term treatment with proton-pump inhibitors, with improvement in symptoms suggesting a positive diagnosis. Short-term treatment with proton-pump inhibitors may help predict abnormal 24-hr pH monitoring results among patients with symptoms suggestive of GERD and Endoscopy helps to diagnosis.

Treatment of GERD : The treatments for GERD may include food choices, lifestyle changes, medications, and possibly surgery. Initial treatment is frequently with a proton-pump inhibitor such as omeprazole.In some cases, a person with GERD symptoms can manage them by taking over-the-counter drugs. This is often safer and less expensive than taking prescription drugs.Some guidelines recommend trying to treat symptoms with an H2 antagonist before using a proton-pump inhibitor because of cost and safety concerns. Instructions to take medications: * Proton pump inhibitor such as Omeprazole ,is most effective when it take followed by H2 receptor blocker suchas Ranitidine. *These drugs should use one hour before food. *Combination of antacid with analgesics improve the symptoms.