Gastroesophageal reflux disease (sometimes shortened to GERD) is the medical term for what many of us call simply call heartburn, a very uncomfortable disorder of the digestive system. This syndrome, which is not – and never will be – a serious threat to one’s health, is known for causing gastric juices to flow up the esophagus from the stomach, thus causing the typical burning sensation which gives the condition its name. The name of the condition is made up of the words ‘gastro’ meaning stomach; and ‘esophageal’ which relates to the esophagus; together with ‘reflux’ which means ‘to return’ or to ‘flow backwards’.

Heartburn is thought to be caused by a hiatus hernia which affects the muscle located at the lower end of the esophagus, called the lower esophageal sphincter (or the LES). This LES opens to allow food to go through it into the stomach and then closes like a trap door to keep the food in the stomach. When the LES relaxes for too long a period or too much, or malfunctions in some other way, the food is allowed to regurgitate back up the esophagus. As this food has already been mixed with the gastric juices and acids our digestive system uses in processing the food we eat, a burning sensation if felt.

In order to come to a confirmed diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease, doctors look for the following 6 main symptoms:

– A burning or very sharp pain in the chest just behind the breastbone, which is worsened when the sufferer lies down or bends over after eating;

– A strong or sharp pain, or simply a tight sensation, in the chest area which is bad enough to wake one up from sleep;

– An acidic liquid (often described as bile) coming into the mouth from the stomach and/or a continuous bitter or sour taste in one’s mouth;

– Nausea and/or belching;

– A sore throat and/or difficulty in swallowing; and

– A hoarse voice, particularly upon waking up in the morning.

There are many ways to treating or alleviating the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Many of them involve simple changes to one’s lifestyle and the foods one eats. The most important changes to make are, as with every medical complaint, to stop smoking and to lose weight (but only if you are overweight). One should also avoid certain foods, such as those of the citrus family, tomatoes and peppermint, as they are already acidic. The same goes for very spicy foods and anything fatty or fried; and chocolate in all its forms is a confirmed culprit. Coffee and all forms of alcohol also are major contributors to the condition.

On the subject of food, many sufferers benefit from eating smaller portions of food, or from eating small amounts of food at intervals during the course of the day, instead of just three meals a day. It is also recommended not to lie down for at least two hours after one has eaten.

Certain medications are also known to cause, or at least to contribute to GERD. They include those compounds of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (or NSAID) family, such as ibuprofen and aspirin.

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Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease,stomach,burning sensation ,syndrome,medical term