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GERD (Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease)Overview
Your gastrointestinal tract includes a number of organs that aid in the process of digestion. The esophagus is a long tube, which begins at the pharynx and ends at the diaphragm. It's actions are controlled through a combination of muscle and nerve activity. The primary function of the esophagus is to move food toward the stomach by swallowing (peristalsis). Once the food has passed into the stomach the esophagus also prevents food and stomach acid from regurgitating by using the Lower-Esophageal Sphincter (LES). The LES is an area of thickness located at the end of the esophageal tract, right before the entry into the stomach. After peristalsis, the LES tightens preventing the reflux of food and acid. The dominant cause of GERD is due to improper LES function. Should any material be regurgitated back into the esophageal tract, it will be cleared through a process of secondary peristalsis. In some patients suffering from GERD, stomach acid can remain in the esophageal tract for several hours because of ineffective secondary peristalsis. In addition to improper LES function, there are certain physiological and lifestyle factors that can also increase the incidence of GERD. Two physiological factors include:
There are several lifestyle risk factors that can increase the incidence of GERD:
SymptomsGERD can have multiple effects on various parts of the body. Symptoms can be pulmonary, digestive or oral depending on the severity and duration of the case. Here are some of the most of the symptoms associated with GERD:
Pulmonary symptoms which occur in a smaller percentage of people with GERD are caused by acid reflux past the upper esophageal sphincter. This type of symptom includes:
Oral symptoms include:
Diagnosis
TreatmentGERD can usually be treated by making lifestyle or diet modifications. If you are suffering from GERD or heartburn you should consult a physician. In addition to your consultation try the following tips to reduce the incidence of reflux:
If diet and lifestyle changes are not enough to control GERD, then medications can be prescribed. Most medications treating GERD fall into two categories: H2Blockers or the more potent Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs). H2 BlockersMost H2 Blockers work by decreasing the flow of stomach acid and are available without a prescription. H2 Blockers should be used to treat mild cases of heartburn. Consult your physician if over-the-counter H2 Blockers have not been effective. Proton Pump InhibitorsPPIs work by helping the esophagus heal faster (within 6 to 8 weeks), thereby decreasing the duration of pain associated with reflux. This type of medication is more potent than H2 Blockers and may require a prescription. The following is a list of medications used to treat GERD:
In some cases, when medications have proven to be ineffective, the patient must live on medications or if surgery is the only viable option, a physician will use a procedure called a Nissen Fundoplication to treat GERD.
"Heartburn." The American Gastroenterology
Association of America. 2002. |
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GERD
is an acronym for a very common condition called "Gastroesophageal Reflux
Disease." It is a disease that is suffered by millions of Americans. Patients
with GERD experience a reflux of acid into their esophageal tract. The most
common symptom of GERD is heartburn, a burning sensation just below the heart,
which occurs right after a big meal; however, in some cases GERD is caused by
physiological irregularities which are very serious and can be quite painful if
left untreated.
