GERD: The Complete Guide

GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is the medical term for acid reflux disease. Some people think it is the same thing as persistent heartburn, but it is more than that. GERD is a situation where the stomach acid or bile steams backward (refluxes) into your esophagus (food pipe), even though heartburn is the most frequent indication of this disease. The lining of your esophagus can be aggravated by acid reflux or this continuous backwash and get inflamed. This aggravation can lead to other problems, for instance, ulcers, the esophagus narrowing and even a somewhat amplified esophageal cancer risk.

The majority of individuals can handle being uncomfortable with regular heartburn by utilizing over the counter medicine or changing their way of life. These cures may only give short-term or limited respite if you actually have GERD. In order to decrease the symptoms if you have GERD, you may require newer, more powerful medicines, perhaps even surgery.

GERD Symptoms

Some typical symptoms and signs of GERD are as follows:

• Pain in the chest, particularly while lying down at night

• Asthma, coughing, sore throat or huskiness in your throat

• Heartburn which is a burning sense in your chest, at times going to the throat, additionally with a sour taste in your mouth.

• Regurgitation of sour liquid or food

• Swallowing problems which is called dysphagia

GERD Causes

When you swallow, this is what happens. The lower esophageal sphincter, which is a round band of muscle around the bottom portion of your esophagus, loosens up in order to let liquid and food to stream down into your stomach. It then closes up.

On the other hand, stomach acid can run back up into your esophagus, inducing heartburn frequently and interrupting you life daily, if this valve weakens or relaxes abnormally. When you lie down or bend over, the acid backup is even worse.

The problem with having GERD is that this continuous acid backwash of acid can aggravate your esophagus lining. As time goes on, it can cause swelling and can eat away at your esophagus. This can cause bleeding or make the esophagus narrow which makes it hard to swallow. It can also induce trouble with breathing. GERD is usually diagnosed when your physician notices the irritation or swelling of the esophagus. Still, many individuals with GERD have an esophagus that appears normal in spite of the symptoms.

There are some things that can make GERD even worse. Some of them are as follows:

• Big meals

• Alcoholic drinks

• Smoking cigarettes

• Some foods, for instance onions, carbonated drinks, fatty foods, tomato sauce, mint, caffeine, chocolate and spicy foods

• Laying down right after eating

• Some medicines such as tranquilizers, hypertension medicines such as calcium channel blockers and tranquilizers

GERD Risk Factors

Some health problems that individuals have that effect digestion problems can raise the risk of GERD. Some examples are:

• Diabetes

• Pregnancy

• Obesity

• Peptic ulcer

• Zollinger-Ellison syndrome

• Hiatal hernia

• Scleroderma

• Asthma

• Delayed stomach emptying

When to see your Doctor

Most individuals that have common heartburn have mild symptoms that go away after awhile. However, if you have any of the GERD symptoms for a while, and you feel frequent or severe pain, you might be developing problems that could require medicine that requires a prescription or more thorough medical care. Call your physician if you have:

• Trouble swallowing

• Heartburn that comes back shortly after your antacid wears off

• Heartburn that at night wakes you up

• Heartburn many times a week

Your health might be possibly at risk and you might even need surgery if you are having any of the following problems:

• Loss of weight

• Your stool is black

• You are regurgitating blood

• You are having difficulty swallowing

Conclusion

If you are having heartburn all the time and acid reflux problems, it might be a good idea to see your doctor to make sure that you aren't experiencing something more serious than just heartburn.

Resource: mayoclinic.com