GERD (original) (raw)

Also called: Gastroesophageal reflux disease

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Summary

Your esophagus is the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) happens when a muscle at the end of your esophagus does not close properly. This allows stomach contents to leak back, or reflux, into the esophagus and irritate it.

You may feel a burning in the chest or throat called heartburn. Sometimes, you can taste stomach fluid in the back of the mouth. If you have these symptoms more than twice a week, you may have GERD. You can also have GERD without having heartburn. Your symptoms could include a dry cough, asthma symptoms, or trouble swallowing.

Anyone, including infants and children, can have GERD. If not treated, it can lead to more serious health problems. In some cases, you might need medicines or surgery. However, many people can improve their symptoms by:

• Avoiding alcohol and spicy, fatty or acidic foods that trigger heartburn
• Eating smaller meals
• Not eating close to bedtime
• Losing weight if needed
• Wearing loose-fitting clothes

NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

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• Acid Reflux (GER and GERD) in Adults (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish

• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

• Antacids and Acid Reducers: OTC Relief for Heartburn and Acid Reflux (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish

• Feeling the Burn? Options for Acid Reflux (National Institutes of Health) Also in Spanish

• Fundoplication (North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition) - PDF Also in Spanish

• Gastroesophageal reflux - series (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

• Esophageal Spasms (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology) Also in Spanish

• GERD: Can Certain Medications Make It Worse? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

• Indigestion (Dyspepsia) (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish

• Warning: Aspirin-Containing Antacid Medicines Can Cause Bleeding (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish

• Test Your GERD Knowledge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Gastroesophageal Reflux (National Institutes of Health)

• Anti-reflux surgery (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

• Bland diet (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

• Gastroesophageal reflux - discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

• Swallowing problems (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish

• Taking antacids (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish