Your oesophagus is a tube that connects your mouth to your stomach. When you swallow, food and drinks go past your throat and into your oesophagus.
Several conditions can affect this organ, including:
Oesophagus disorders may lead to:
Babies and children with oesophageal disorders sometimes have a hard time eating and gaining weight. They may frequently vomit or spit up food.
Typically, a group of muscles called the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) closes off your oesophagus from your stomach, preventing food or stomach acid from travelling back up. Acid reflux and GERD can develop when the LES is too weak or opens up when it should stay closed.
Eosinophilic oesophagitis may be triggered by an allergy or immune system reaction toward food, pollen, dust, mould, or other factors.
When acid reflux continues untreated, stomach acid may damage cells in the oesophagus. This can lead to more serious problems like Barrett’s oesophagus or oesophageal cancer.
Smoking cigarettes, drinking alcohol, and being overweight can make you more likely to develop oesophagus disorders. These conditions can also be triggered by drugs such as pain medications, antibiotics, or antidepressants.
Acid reflux and GERD are very common during pregnancy. People who have other allergies or asthma have a higher chance of developing eosinophilic oesophagitis.
Doctors don’t always perform tests to confirm whether you have GERD. Instead, if your symptoms point toward this condition, your doctor may recommend simply trying to treat it.
In some cases, your doctor will recommend additional tests to look for oesophagus problems. Tests can include using a thin tube to see inside of your oesophagus and stomach (upper endoscopy) or checking to see whether there is stomach acid in your oesophagus (oesophageal pH monitoring).
Over time, acid reflux or GERD can wear away the outer covering (enamel) on your teeth. It can also make you lose your voice or develop asthma.