| Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD, is the | | | | cases a physician will not do tests right away but |
| medical term for what most people refer to as | | | | will first prescribe over-the-counter or prescription |
| acid reflux disease. | | | | medications to see if they clear up the |
| Gastroesophageal is a relatively new term for acid | | | | symptoms. |
| reflux disease. It has been used for approximately | | | | If the medications do not take care of the |
| the past 20 years. Before that it was just | | | | symptoms then a physician will likely do one or |
| referred to as heartburn. But heartburn is just | | | | more of the following diagnostic tests: x-rays with |
| one of the symptoms of GERD. Some of the | | | | a barium swallow, an upper gastrointestinal x-ray |
| other symptoms of GERD are regurgitation, | | | | series, an upper endoscopy, an esophageal |
| hoarseness or laryngitis, the feeling of a lump in | | | | manometry, or a 24-hour pH probe. The reason |
| the throat, coughing, bad breath, asthma, difficulty | | | | physicians may try over-the-counter or |
| swallowing, and water brash. Some people with | | | | prescription medications before running tests is |
| GERD do not have any symptoms at all. | | | | because some of the tests, such as the upper |
| What happens to cause GERD? It starts with acid | | | | endoscopy and pH probe are invasive, and |
| in the stomach washing back up into the | | | | because of the costs of some of the tests. |
| esophagus repeatedly, which happens if the lower | | | | After diagnosing GERD, a physician will |
| esophageal sphincter becomes relaxed. | | | | recommend lifestyle changes such as the ones |
| Some foods and beverages can cause the lower | | | | mentioned earlier in this article to help control the |
| esophageal sphincter to relax. This is not an | | | | GERD, and depending on the severity will |
| all-inclusive list but some of the most common | | | | recommend over-the-counter medications or will |
| are: chocolate, licorice, peppermint, fatty foods, | | | | prescribe a stronger medication by prescription. |
| caffeinated beverages, and alcohol. Barbiturates, | | | | The medications may need to be continued |
| calcium-channel blockers, Diazepam and | | | | indefinitely because over half of all people who |
| Sumitriptan are some of the medications that | | | | stop taking their medications after getting their |
| cause the lower esophageal sphincter to relax and | | | | symptoms under control have a recurrence within |
| allow acid back in to the esophagus. | | | | a year. |
| Lifestyle changes can be very effective in helping | | | | If the medications do not alleviate the symptoms, |
| to control GERD although over- the-counter | | | | surgery may be needed. Surgery is also an |
| medications, prescription medications, and possibly | | | | alternative to having to take medications |
| surgery, may also be necessary. Some of the | | | | indefinitely. A procedure called a Nissen |
| lifestyle changes that may help control GERD | | | | fundoplication is the type of surgery typically done |
| include: losing weight if you are overweight, | | | | to relieve GERD. In the surgery the upper part of |
| avoiding high-fat foods, not lying down right after | | | | the stomach located near the esophagus, called |
| eating, not eating large heavy meals (i.e. dont | | | | the fundus, is wrapped around the lower |
| overstuff yourselfespecially on fatty foods), and | | | | esophagus. Doing this strengthens the barrier |
| stopping smoking if you are a smoker. | | | | function of the lower esophagus, thus preventing |
| GERD can be a difficult disease to diagnosis. That | | | | gastreosophageal reflux and repairing the main |
| is because of the wide range of symptoms | | | | irregularity that occurs in people suffering from |
| people can experience and the complication of | | | | GERD. The surgery is usually done laparoscopically. |
| some people not experiencing any symptoms at | | | | It is considered a safe surgery (but remember |
| all. It is easier to diagnosis if a person is | | | | any surgery carries risks) that typically gives good |
| experiencing the classic symptoms of GERD | | | | results. |
| which are heartburn and regurgitation. In some | | | | |