Shop Plans
Health
Find a Health Plan
We offer a complete choice of plans to meet your coverage needs and fit your budget.
More Plans
Travel
Cancer
VIP
Dental
Get a Dental Plan
We offer three Traditional plans and three Certified plans to meet your needs.
Medicare
Pick a Medicare Plan
Thinking about your Medicare options? Find out which plan is right for you.
Find Doctor or Drug
Find a Doctor
Find a Doctor or Drug
Pick a directory to search or find other helpful information about drug resources, quality programs and more.
Directories
Louisiana Provider Directory
Quality Blue Directory
National Provider Directory
BlueDental Advantage Plus Directory
Davis Vision Directory
Hospital Based Physicians
ER/OR Information
Are you planning a hospital stay? If you just found out that you need surgery, or if you will be admitted to a hospital or ambulatory surgical center for any reason, you will most likely receive some care during your stay from a hospital-based physician. Learn more.
Other Directories
Blue Cross Blue Shield Global Core
Federal Employee Program (FEP)
Rx Drug Resources
Manage your medicine, find drug lists and learn how to save money.
Quality Programs
Quality Blue Programs
We work with doctors, hospitals and clinics around Louisiana to make sure you have a better healthcare experience.
Save Money
$25 Gym Memberships
Find a Gym
For just $25 a month and a $25 enrollment fee, you'll have access to 9,000 participating fitness locations around the state and nation.
More Money-Saving Tips
Find Discounts
Lower Drug Costs
Preventive Care Services
Primary Care Doctor
Pick a Primary Care Doctor
Picking a primary care doctor is an important step to staying healthy and saving money.
Choose the Right Care
Where you and go and who you see for treatment is a big part of getting quality healthcare while saving money.
Wellness
Discounts
Get discounts on gym memberships, fitness gear, healthy eating, prescriptions and more.
More Wellness Tips
Tools
Member Programs
Find a Program
Whether you want to quit smoking or find the right doctor, we have many programs to help.
Wellness Library
Learn About Wellness
Read articles, take quizzes, watch videos and listen to podcasts about many health topics.
Learn
Insurance 101
Learn the Basics
Understand your plan, learn about health savings accounts, and watch helpful videos.
Social
Find Us on Social Media
Join the conversation and stay connected with us for exclusive content.
Straight Talk
Get Straight Answers
If you're looking for a straight answer to your healthcare questions, this is the place.
My Account
My Account Information
Claims
Benefits
Costs
Statements
Pharmacy
Manage Account
Manage Your Account
Pay your bill, view your statements or update your email or password.
Forms
Other Coverage Questionnaire
Authorized Delegate
Health Assessment
Esophagitis is when the lining of your esophagus becomes irritated and inflamed. The esophagus is the tube that connects the back of your throat to your stomach. Food and liquid go down the tube when you swallow. The lining of the esophagus is sensitive. Because of this, many things can cause irritation.
Causes of esophagitis can include:
Stomach acid often leaking up into your esophagus (gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD)
Chronic vomiting
Medicines, such as aspirin or other anti-inflammatory medicines
Medical procedures, such as radiation therapy
Infections that weaken your immune system
Allergies, often to foods
You may be at risk for esophagitis if you:
Are pregnant
Smoke
Are obese
Are an older adult
Use certain medicines, such as NSAID pain relievers (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines), nitrates, beta blockers, certain antibiotics, or potassium
Have a spinal cord injury
Have had radiation therapy for chest tumors
Swallow medicine with too little water or get a pill stuck in your throat
Have scleroderma, an autoimmune disease
Have many allergies, especially to certain foods
Symptoms can occur a bit differently in each person. They can include:
Sore throat
Feeling that something is stuck in your throat
Sores in your mouth
Nausea or vomiting
Trouble swallowing
Pain when swallowing
Heartburn
The symptoms of esophagitis may look like other health conditions. See your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
You may see a healthcare provider called a gastroenterologist. This is a doctor who specializes in the digestive system. They will ask about your symptoms and health history and will also give you a physical exam. You may also have tests. These include:
Upper GI series. This test takes X-ray images of your esophagus and stomach as you swallow a barium fluid. The test shows any problem areas.
Endoscopy. Your healthcare provider uses a tiny camera on a thin, flexible tube to look inside your esophagus for signs of irritation.
Esophageal pH test for stomach acid. Your provider will put sensors or thin wires into your esophagus either while you're awake or with an endoscopy. These sensors or wires are left in place to gather information over 1 to 3 days. This can show if stomach acid backs up in the esophagus.
Treatment depends on the cause. It will also depend on how severe the condition is. Treatments include:
Taking medicines. Acid-blocking medicine causes your stomach to make less acid. Other medicines can sometimes help make the valve between the esophagus and stomach stronger. This valve is called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). It keeps stomach acid in your stomach. Other medicines may include infection-fighting medicines (such as antibiotics). You may take steroids to reduce swelling (inflammation) in certain kinds of esophagitis.
Not taking certain medicines. Don’t take aspirin or ibuprofen and similar NSAIDs unless your healthcare provider tells you to.
Not eating certain foods. If food allergies cause your condition, you will need to not eat those foods.
Dilation. This is stretching of the esophagus. It is done during an endoscopy.
Surgery or endoscopic treatment. Your healthcare provider may advise this treatment if you have bleeding or narrowing of the esophagus. It also might be advised to control the spread of precancerous cells.
Your healthcare provider may advise these lifestyle changes if your condition is caused by GERD:
Raise the head of your bed. This will help prevent reflux when you sleep.
Change your eating habits. You may need to switch to a bland diet for a while. This means not having spicy foods, citrus, chocolate, fatty foods, or caffeine.
Stop smoking.
Don’t drink alcohol or limit how much you drink.
Keep a healthy weight.
Be more active.
Talk with your healthcare provider about the risks, benefits, and possible side effects of all treatments.
Esophagitis can affect your quality of life. If left untreated, it may also develop into a condition called Barrett’s esophagus. This may increase your risk for esophageal cancer.
Other problems that can happen include:
Trouble swallowing or eating
Bleeding
Narrowing of the esophagus
Esophagitis can come back. You will need to follow your healthcare provider’s advice about lifestyle changes and medicine use.
Call the healthcare provider if you have:
Symptoms that don’t get better, or get worse
New symptoms
Esophagitis is when the lining of your esophagus becomes irritated and inflamed.
Causes of esophagitis can include GERD, vomiting, and medicines. You may be at risk for esophagitis if you are pregnant, smoke, or are obese.
Symptoms can include sore throat and a feeling that something is stuck in your throat.
Treatments can include lifestyle changes, medicines, dilation, and surgery.
If left untreated, the condition may also develop into a condition called Barrett’s esophagus. This may increase your risk for esophageal cancer.
Tips to help you get the most from a visit to your healthcare provider:
Know the reason for your visit and what you want to happen.
Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.
Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your provider tells you.
At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your provider gives you.
Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed and how it will help you. Also know what the side effects are.
Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways.
Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.
Know what to expect if you do not take the medicine or have the test or procedure.
If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.
Know how you can contact your provider if you have questions.