Inflammation of the esophagus is often caused by stomach acid or candida fungus and can lead to difficulty swallowing and even esophageal cancer. Treatment involves addressing the root cause and avoiding foods that could further irritate the esophagus.
The main cause of inflammation of the esophagus tends to be stomach acid. Sometimes this is introduced into the esophagus through a disorder called acid reflux, but it could also be introduced during a vomiting episode. The stomach is tough enough to handle this acid, but the tissue in the upper parts of the digestive tract, including the esophagus, generally isn’t. Inflammation of the esophagus can also occur due to an infection, allergy, or reaction to some chemical irritant passing through the digestive system. One of the main causes besides stomach acid is candida fungus, which is also known to cause the common vaginal yeast infection in women.
The esophagus is the passage that extends from a person’s mouth down to their stomach. Everything people eat has to go through this tunnel and it normally runs smoothly. In the rare cases where it becomes inflamed, the condition is called esophagitis.
When an inflammation of the esophagus occurs, several symptoms can appear. Some of the more common ones include the feeling that food is getting trapped in the esophagus, pains, and burning sensations. In some cases, the esophagus may become so swollen that some people may have difficulty swallowing anything, including food or liquids, which could become dangerous. Long-term inflammation of the esophagus has also been associated with esophageal cancer, which is generally very dangerous.
In most cases, when inflammation of the esophagus occurs, doctors will focus on treating the root problem that’s causing it to happen. In many cases, this may involve treating various gastric reflux problems such as ulcers. Once the irritant, be it stomach acid or something else, is cleared from the esophagus, the condition usually goes away on its own. People may be given pain medication or may be on antibiotics, antifungals, or antiviral drugs if there is any type of infection.
While waiting for treatment to work, it’s generally considered important that people take certain precautions. One of the most important is to avoid eating foods that could lead to more irritation of the esophagus. These could include foods with a rough surface that could scratch the passage going down. If you consume too many of these types of foods, experts suggest that your esophagus can easily tear while it’s inflamed, and these tears could lead to scarring, which could be debilitating in the long run. Another precaution many experts recommend is for people to avoid spicy foods, which could help aggravate inflammation.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
