Acid reflux treatment in Seoul, step by step

What acid reflux treatment in Seoul looks like at VEI Clinic

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) happens when stomach contents flow back into the esophagus often enough to cause symptoms or irritation. The valve at the bottom of the esophagus relaxes at the wrong times, and acid, and sometimes bile, reaches tissue that is not built for it.

Acid reflux treatment in Seoul at our Apgujeong clinic starts with a careful history rather than an automatic prescription. Dr. HyunSung Park, a board-certified internal medicine specialist with gastroenterology subspecialty training, asks when symptoms happen, what triggers them, what you have already tried and whether there are any warning signs. That shapes a plan you can follow, with a clear point at which we review it.

Symptoms of GERD, typical and not so typical

Classic reflux feels like burning behind the breastbone after meals or when lying down, often with a sour or bitter taste rising into the mouth. But reflux can also show up in less obvious ways, which is why it is sometimes missed.

Other conditions can look like reflux, including gastritis, stomach ulcers, gallbladder pain, functional dyspepsia and, importantly, heart problems. Part of the consultation is making sure the label fits before you commit to weeks of treatment. If you have had reflux tests or an endoscopy before, bring the reports, even if they are in another language.

• Heartburn and regurgitation, especially after large or late meals
• A sour taste on waking or waking at night with coughing
• Hoarseness, frequent throat clearing or a feeling of a lump in the throat
• A chronic dry cough without a clear chest cause
• Upper stomach discomfort, early fullness or belching

How treatment works, and why timing matters

Most reflux plans combine lifestyle changes with medicine. For occasional symptoms, an alginate or antacid after meals or at bedtime can be enough. For frequent symptoms, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) is the usual first choice. PPIs work best taken 30 to 60 minutes before a meal, typically breakfast, which many people do not realize. An H2 blocker may be added for night-time symptoms.

Lifestyle changes make a real difference: smaller meals, finishing dinner at least three hours before lying down, raising the head of the bed, and cutting back on alcohol, late coffee and very fatty or spicy meals. Losing weight and stopping smoking help many people, and some medicines, including certain painkillers, can make reflux worse.

We usually review you after four to eight weeks. If symptoms are controlled, we step the dose down to the lowest that works. If they are not, we look again at the diagnosis, the timing and whether testing is needed.

Who this suits, and when you need endoscopy instead

The reflux clinic suits adults with heartburn, regurgitation or reflux-type throat and cough symptoms that are bothersome but not an emergency. It also suits people who have been taking reflux medicine for a long time and want to know whether they still need it.

An upper endoscopy looks directly at the esophagus and stomach. It is not done at VEI Clinic. We refer you to a hospital, with an English summary, if you have trouble or pain swallowing, unintended weight loss, signs of bleeding or anemia, persistent vomiting, symptoms that do not respond to a proper trial of treatment, or long-standing reflux with risk factors for Barrett's esophagus. H. pylori testing may also be offered, because treating this infection helps some people with upper stomach symptoms.

Red flags: when to call 119

Chest pain is not always reflux. Call 119 or go to an emergency room straight away for any of the following.

• Chest pain or pressure with sweating, breathlessness, or pain spreading to the arm, jaw or back
• Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
• Black, tarry stools
• Food stuck in the throat and being unable to swallow saliva
• Severe abdominal pain or high fever with confusion