K.N.O.W. Home Health - ESOPHAGITIS

ESOPHAGITIS

What is Esophagitis?

Esophagitis means the lining of your esophagus (the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach) is inflamed or irritated. This can make swallowing painful or difficult.

Causes of Esophagitis

Esophagitis can be caused by:

Acid reflux (when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus)
Infections like candida (yeast) or viruses
Certain medicines that can irritate the esophagus
Allergies that cause swelling
Injury from swallowing something sharp or hot
Radiation therapy to the chest area

Symptoms of Esophagitis

You might notice:

Pain or burning in the chest or throat
Trouble swallowing or feeling like food is stuck
Heartburn
Sore throat or hoarseness
Coughing or choking when eating
Nausea or vomiting

How to Reduce Symptoms

Eat smaller, more frequent meals
Avoid spicy, acidic, or fatty foods (like citrus, tomato, fried foods)
Don’t eat right before lying down or going to bed
Stay upright for at least 2 hours after eating
Avoid smoking and alcohol
Take medicines exactly as your doctor tells you
If you have allergies, follow your doctor’s advice to reduce them

Special Diet or Considerations

Soft, easy-to-swallow foods like mashed potatoes, yogurt, cooked vegetables, and soups can help
Drink plenty of water
Avoid very hot or very cold drinks if they irritate your throat

When to Contact Your Home Health Nurse or Doctor

Call your nurse or doctor if you:

Have trouble swallowing liquids or solids
Notice blood when you vomit or in your stool
Have persistent chest pain or worsening symptoms
Feel very tired or weak
Experience weight loss because you can’t eat well
Have side effects from your medicines

When to Call 9-1-1 or Go to the Emergency Room

Get emergency help if you:

Cannot swallow anything at all
Are choking or having trouble breathing
Vomit large amounts of blood
Have severe chest pain that does not go away
Feel confused, dizzy, or very faint

Patient Homework / Assessment

Instructions: Read each statement carefully. Circle True or False. If the answer is False, please correct it with the right information.

True or False: Esophagitis is inflammation of the esophagus lining.
True or False: Acid reflux can cause esophagitis.
True or False: Eating large meals helps reduce symptoms of esophagitis.
True or False: You should avoid lying down immediately after eating if you have esophagitis.
True or False: Smoking can make esophagitis worse.
True or False: Esophagitis can cause trouble swallowing.
True or False: You should eat spicy and acidic foods to help esophagitis.
True or False: You should drink plenty of water if you have esophagitis.
True or False: Chest pain can be a symptom of esophagitis.
True or False: It is okay to ignore blood when vomiting if you have esophagitis.
True or False: You should call your doctor if you vomit blood.
True or False: Soft foods can help reduce pain when swallowing.
True or False: If you cannot swallow at all, you should go to the emergency room.
True or False: You should avoid alcohol when you have esophagitis.
True or False: Heartburn is never a symptom of esophagitis.
True or False: Esophagitis can be caused by infections.
True or False: You should stay upright after eating to help reduce symptoms.
True or False: Weight loss is not related to esophagitis.
True or False: Medicines prescribed by your doctor can help esophagitis.
True or False: Severe chest pain that won’t go away is an emergency.

ASSESSMENT of WELL-BEING INDIVIDUALIZED PATIENT HOMEWORK

Symptom Identification:

Have you had pain or burning in your chest, trouble swallowing, or food feeling stuck in your throat?

2. Activity Impact/SAFETY:

Do these symptoms make it hard for you to eat, drink, or keep a healthy weight?

3. Treatment Adherence:

Are you taking your medicines (like acid reducers) the way your doctor told you, and not lying down right after meals?

4. Preventive Measures:

Are you avoiding foods and drinks that make your symptoms worse, like spicy foods, soda, or caffeine?

5. Lab/Monitoring Question (if needed):

Have you had any follow-up tests, like an endoscopy, if your doctor ordered one to check healing?