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GERD stands for Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease. "Gastro" refers to the stomach. Esophageal refers to the esophagus , the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Reflux means to back-up or flow backwards. GERD is a condition in which acid, bile and partially-digested food in the stomach back up into the esophagus.

Partially digested food contains a strong acid. It also contains powerful enzymes that break down food. When acid and enzymes come into contact with the esophagus, they cause irritation, inflammation, pain, and other symptoms.

The stomach lining has a special protective layer that protects the stomach from acid attack. However, this protective layer does not exist in the esophagus, making it vulnerable to damage from stomach acid and digestive enzymes.

Many people think that heartburn (or acid indigestion) is a separate disease. It actually is one symptom of GERD. Heartburn is an unpleasant burning sensation behind the breastbone that usually occurs after a meal.

Most individuals with GERD also have hiatal hernias , which make it easier for stomach contents to reflux into the esophagus. A hiatal herniaoccurs when part of the stomach bulges into the chest cavity through an opening in the diaphragm (hiatus). The diaphragm is a sheet of muscle that separates the stomach cavity from the chest cavity.

Heartburn is very common during pregnancy. More than 50 percent of pregnant women have it occasionally and 5 per cent have it daily.

About 80 percent of people with GERD have a hiatal hernia, which makes heartburn and other symptoms more likely.

Hiatal hernias are very common, affecting about 15 percent of Americans. Yet only a small number of people with hiatal hernias have any symptoms.

GERD is a relatively new term for recognized conditions commonly called "acid indigestion," "heartburn," "reflux," "reflux esophagitis," and "hiatal hernia." Doctors started using the term "GERD" in the 1980s because it better describes



Tags:	Allergies, GERD

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matt1969icp

Posted 4 Years, 8 months, 3 Weeks, 6 days ago

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