吳宇琛

SUM WU

Sum Wu

Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioner

Bachelor of Health Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine (UTS)

Bachelor of Science Majoring in Psychology (UOW)

Specialising in pain management and mental wellbeing through Tradition Chinese medicine in combination with modern science in mental health, dieting and nutrition.

吳宇琛，澳洲政府註冊中醫師、針灸師，五龍崗大學心理學學士、悉尼科技大學中醫系學士，擅長用傳統針灸理傷手法和中藥治療各種新舊損傷痛症，特別採用中醫中藥和現代心理學、營養學相結合調理治療各種慢性病和亞健康。

Acid Reflux part 1
胃酸反流之一

What is Acid reflux? Well as the name suggests it is the backwards flow of stomach acid up into the oesophagus. Acid reflux causes what is commonly known as heartburn, a burning sensation that happens when some of the acid content of the stomach flows up into the oesophagus.

什麼是胃酸反流（倒流）？顧名思義，胃酸逆流到食道。胃酸反流會導致通常所說的胃灼熱，當胃中的一些酸成分流入食道時，就會產生一種燒灼感。

Although people may use the terms interchangeably, heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Despite the English name, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart. Other symptoms due to the reflux of stomach acid include sore throat, nausea, vomiting and damage to the mucosal lining of the oesophagus.

盡管人們可能會混用這些術語，但胃灼熱是胃酸反流的症狀，也稱為胃食管反流 (GER)。盡管有英文名字 “Heartburn”燒心，但胃灼熱與心臟無關。胃酸反流引起的其他症狀包括喉嚨痛、惡心、嘔吐和食道粘膜損傷。

Gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD or sometimes spelt as GORD) is a more serious form of GER. Doctors will diagnose GERD when acid reflux becomes a recurrent complaint about an individual, usually more than twice a week for several weeks at a time.

胃食管反流（GERD 或有時拼寫為 GORD）是胃酸反流的一種更嚴重的形式。當胃酸反流成為一個人反復出現的症狀時（通常每周兩次以上，持續數周），醫生就會診斷出胃食管反流病。

GERD is most common in Western countries, affecting an estimated 20% of the population in these regions. About 60% of people who have GERD are women.

胃酸反流在西方國家最為常見，估計影響這些地區 20% 的人口。大約 60% 的患者是女性。

The stomach contains hydrochloric acid, which is a strong acid that helps break down food and protect against pathogens such as bacteria. The lining of the stomach is specially adapted to protect it from the powerful acid, but the oesophagus is not protected. A ring of muscle, the gastroesophageal sphincter, normally act as a valve that lets food into the stomach but not back up into the oesophagus.

胃液中含有鹽酸，這是一種強酸，有助於分解食物並防止細菌等病原體。胃的內壁經過特殊改造，可以保護其免受強酸的侵害，但食道卻沒有受到保護。胃食管括約肌是一圈肌肉，通常充當閥門，讓食物進入胃，但不會迴流到食道。

When this valve fails, stomach content regurgitates back into the oesophagus. This is acid reflux. A person will feel a burning sensation in their oesophagus as the acid rises up. This is heartburn.

當這個閥門失效時，胃內容物會反流回食道。這是胃酸反流。當胃酸上升時，人會感到食道有燒灼感，這就是胃灼熱。

Acid reflux can affect people of all ages, sometimes for unknown reasons. It may happen due to a lifestyle factor, but also due to causes that cannot always be prevented. Risk factors for getting acid or GERD reflux include:

• obesity
• smoking (active or passive)
• low levels of physical exercise
• medications, including drugs for asthma, calcium-channel blockers, antihistamines, painkillers, sedatives, and antidepressants
• pregnancy

胃酸反流會影響所有年齡段的人，有的時候原因不明。可能是由於生活方式因素造成的，但也可能是由於無法預防的原因造成的，胃酸或胃食管反流病的危險因素包括：
• 肥胖
• 吸煙（主動或被動）
• 體育鍛煉水平低
• 藥物，包括治療哮喘的藥物、鈣通道阻滯劑、抗組胺藥、止痛藥、鎮靜劑和抗抑鬱藥
• 懷孕

Food and dietary habits that have been linked to acid reflux include:

• caffeine
• alcohol
• fatty foods
• spicy foods
• tomatoes and tomato sauces
• onions and garlic
• eating large meals
• lying down within 2-3 hours of eating a meal
• consuming chocolate, carbonated drinks, and acidic juices

與胃酸反流有關的食物和飲食習慣包括：
• 咖啡因
• 酒精
• 食用過多脂肪類食物
• 辛辣食物
• 番茄和番茄醬
• 洋蔥和大蒜
• 暴飲暴食
• 飯後 2-3 小時內躺下
• 食用巧克力、碳酸飲料和酸性果汁

Acid reflux can also be triggered by stress and anxiety. The current understanding is that stress and anxiety does not actually lead to increased bouts of acid reflux but it is believed that stress and anxiety may make you more sensitive to smaller amounts of acid in the oesophagus. This may be due to an over response from the drain due to changes in brain chemistry which increases pain receptor activity.

壓力和焦慮也可能引發胃酸反流，目前的理解是，壓力和焦慮實際上並不會導致胃酸反流的增加，但根據研究，壓力和焦慮可能會使您對食道中少量的酸更加敏感，這可能是由於大腦化學變化導致疼痛感受器活性增加而引起的引流過度反應。

One thing is for certain is that GERD symptoms increase in people who are under stress.

可以肯定的是，處於壓力下的人胃食管反流病癥狀會增加。

Depending on the severity of the condition GERD can be treated as easily as taking antacids, exercising and making dietary changes but in a lot of cases it is a multifactor disease that is hard to resolve. This can be complicated if it is triggered by stress or anxiety as these situations may be out of your control. In these scenarios the best option is to reduce stress levels which can take the form of mental wellbeing therapy such or taking medication for anxiety or depression.

根據病情的嚴重程度，胃食管反流病的治療方法比較簡單，只需要服用抗酸劑、鍛煉和改變飲食即可，但在很多情況下，它是一種難以解決的多因素疾病。如果是由壓力或焦慮引發的，情況可能會很復雜，因為這些情況可能超出自己的控制。在這些情況下，最好的選擇是降低壓力水平，可以采取心理健康療法的形式，例如服用治療焦慮或抑鬱的藥物。

如有疑問想咨詢吳宇琛中醫師，可以在微信或whatsapp搜索0404836368，加吳宇琛中醫師微信或whatsapp，也可以發短信或致電0404836368作語音留言，吳宇琛中醫師有空就會回復。

（吳宇琛中醫師，澳洲政府註冊中醫師、針灸師，五龍崗大學心理學學士、悉尼科技大學中醫系學士，悉尼好思维松轩药行主治中医师，本文僅供參考，具體診療應諮詢專業人士。）