Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, occurs when the muscle located at the end of your esophagus--called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES)--does not close properly. Your esophagus is the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. Because your LES does not close properly when it should, your stomach contents leak back, or reflux, into your esophagus and irritate it.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease Symptoms
Most people who have gastroesophageal reflux disease feel a burning sensation in their chest or throat. This is called heartburn. Sometimes, you can taste stomach fluid in the back of the mouth. This is acid indigestion. If you have these symptoms for two weeks in a row or more, you may have GERD.
Who gets reflux disease?
Anyone can have Gastroesophageal reflux disease, including infants and children.
What You Can Do
Here are some tips on what you can do to improve your symptoms.
- Avoid drinking alcohol and eating spicy, fatty or acidic foods that trigger your heartburn
- Eat smaller meals
- Avoid eating close to bedtime
- Try to lose weight if you are overweight or obese
- Avoid wearing too tight belt
Gastroesophageal reflux disease Treatment
Your doctor may recommend medicines such as antacids or H2 blockers to relieve your symptoms. If your symptoms are not relieved by medications, your doctor may recommend surgery to correct the cause of your reflux disease.
More Digestive Diseases Topics
References:
Heartburn, Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER), and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse < http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gerd/index.htm>. December 15, 2010
GERD. Medline Plus, National Library of Medicine < http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/gerd.html>. December 15, 2010
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