Acid Reflux and GERD
(Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)

Heartburn caused by acid reflux is a very common ailment. Most people have experienced occasional heartburn after eating a heavy meal. When heartburn occurs more than once a week, however, gastroesophageal reflux disease may be the cause.

The lower esophageal sphincter is a band of muscle located where the esophagus meets the stomach. These muscles, in combination with the diaphragm, prevent acid reflux from occurring.

GERD results if the lower esophageal sphincter is damaged or weakened. A lower esophageal sphincter that functions incorrectly is known as an "incompetent" sphincter. Acid reflux arising from a faulty sphincter can include regurgitation of stomach contents up the esophagus and into the mouth.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease affects at least five to seven percent of the world's population. GERD is a chronic condition, requiring long-term treatment to control acid reflux and prevent health complications.

Unfortunately, the main symptom of GERD is heartburn, and the general public tends to see heartburn as a common and minor condition. As a result, GERD symptoms are often dismissed, or medicated with over the counter antacids.

Self-treatment of GERD treats only symptoms and does nothing to control the underlying condition. Proper treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease requires specific medical treatments and lifestyle changes to reduce acid reflux and control heartburn. Serious cases of GERD may require surgical correction.

Acid reflux and GERD are conditions that can have severe health complications. The discovery that gastroesophageal reflux disease increases the risk of esophagus cancer in some people led to more media coverage of GERD, but many people continue to view chronic heartburn as a nuisance, and nothing more.

By learning to identify acid reflux symptoms and understanding the need for proper GERD treatment, the public is more likely to report chronic heartburn. The risk of serious GERD complications is significantly reduced when gastroesophageal reflux disease is diagnosed and treated in its early stages.

This section is divided into multiple articles, covering topics such as causes of GERD and GERD symptoms, with each listed in the menu to the left. To research other gastrointestinal issues or health topics, please use the morefocus search tool, or see the related topics listed to the left.

Resources

Beers, M.H. & Berkow, R. (ed). Esophageal disorders. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 17th Edition. Merck Research Laboratories, NJ, 1999.

International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. (updated 2005). About GERD.

University of Maryland Medical Center. (nd). Gastroesophegeal reflux disease (GERD)/heartburn.