What Is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Gerd ????

What Is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Gerd - Findsymptoms of GERD which are heartburn and
Out What Is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Gerdregurgitation. In some cases a physician will not do
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or GERD, is thetests right away but will first prescribe
medical term for what most people refer to as acidover-the-counter or prescription medications to see if
reflux disease.they clear up the symptoms.
Gastroesophageal is a relatively new term for acidIf the medications do not take care of the symptoms
reflux disease. It has been used for approximately thethen a physician will likely do one or more of the
past 20 years. Before that it was just referred to asfollowing diagnostic tests: x-rays with a barium
heartburn. But heartburn is just one of the symptomsswallow, an upper gastrointestinal x-ray series, an
of GERD. Some of the other symptoms of GERD areupper endoscopy, an esophageal manometry, or a
regurgitation, hoarseness or laryngitis, the feeling of a24-hour pH probe. The reason physicians may try
lump in the throat, coughing, bad breath, asthma,over-the-counter or prescription medications before
difficulty swallowing, and water brash. Some peoplerunning tests is because some of the tests, such as
with GERD do not have any symptoms at all.the upper endoscopy and pH probe are invasive, and
What happens to cause GERD?because of the costs of some of the tests.
It starts with acid in the stomach washing back up into
the esophagus repeatedly, which happens if the lowerAfter diagnosing GERD , a physician will recommend
esophageal sphincter becomes relaxed.lifestyle changes such as the ones mentioned earlier in
Some foods and beverages can cause the lowerthis article to help control the GERD, and depending on
esophageal sphincter to relax. This is not an all-inclusivethe severity will recommend over-the-counter
list but some of the most common are: chocolate,medications or will prescribe a stronger medication by
licorice, peppermint, fatty foods, caffeinated beverages,prescription. The medications may need to be
and alcohol. Barbiturates, calcium-channel blockers,continued indefinitely because over half of all people
Diazepam and Sumitriptan are some of thewho stop taking their medications after getting their
medications that cause the lower esophageal sphinctersymptoms under control have a recurrence within a
to relax and allow acid back in to the esophagus.year. 
Lifestyle changes can be very effective in helping toIf the medications do not alleviate the symptoms,
control GERD although over- the-counter medications,surgery may be needed. Surgery is also an alternative
prescription medications, and possibly surgery, mayto having to take medications indefinitely. A procedure
also be necessary. Some of the lifestyle changes thatcalled a "Nissen fundoplication" is the type of surgery
may help control GERD include: losing weight if you aretypically done to relieve GERD. In the surgery the
overweight, avoiding high-fat foods, not lying down rightupper part of the stomach located near the
after eating, not eating large heavy meals (i.e. don'tesophagus, called the "fundus," is wrapped around the
overstuff yourself—especially on fatty foods), andlower 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 isgastreosophageal reflux and repairing the main
because of the wide range of symptoms people canirregularity that occurs in people suffering from GERD.
experience and the complication of some people notThe surgery is usually done laparoscopically. It is
experiencing any symptoms at all. It is easier toconsidered a safe surgery (but remember any surgery
diagnosis if a person is experiencing the classiccarries risks) that typically gives good results.