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    GERD
    Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a digestive disorder. Gastroesophageal refers to the stomach and esophagus (food pipe). Reflux means to flow back or return. Gastroesophageal reflux is a condition in which the contents of the stomach (in liquid form) backs up or refluxes into the esophagus.  
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 29 July 2015

What is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)?

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a digestive disorder.

Gastroesophageal refers to the stomach and esophagus (food pipe). Reflux means to flow back or return. Gastroesophageal reflux is a condition in which the contents of the stomach (in liquid form) backs up or refluxes into the esophagus.

The regurgitated liquid usually contains acid and pepsin that are produced by the stomach. (Pepsin is an enzyme that begins the digestion of proteins in the stomach.) The liquid can inflame and damage the esophagus (esophagitis). This condition is also known as acid reflux.

Are you at risk of developing GERD: http://www.patientsengage.com/conditions/gerd/causes-risk-factors

Symptoms: http://www.patientsengage.com/conditions/gerd/signs-symptoms

What tests do you need to have done: http://www.patientsengage.com/conditions/gerd/diagnosis-tests

Treatment of GERD: http://www.patientsengage.com/conditions/gerd/treatments

Managing GERD: http://www.patientsengage.com/conditions/gerd/gerd-management

Caregiver tips:  http://www.patientsengage.com/conditions/gerd/caring-tips

 

Condition

Stories

  • Back of a person carrying a basket of fruits and vegetables in the shopping aisle
    Tips for Caring for a GERD Patient
    Caring for a GERD Patient Heartburn is the most common symptom of this condition, although some GERD sufferers don't feel heartburn but instead experience chest pains and difficulty swallowing. Fortunately, with proper treatment and monitoring of the patient, the onset of more serious conditions can be prevented. Use the following suggestions to help comfort your family member or patient and ease the painful symptoms of GERD. Follow Up  After the initial GERD diagnosis, a follow-up doctor'…
  • Image of a back of a person in a grocery aisle
    Management of GERD
    In addition to medication to manage GERD, lifestyle changes are an important element of managing the condition: Lose weight. Obesity is the leading cause of GERD. Extra stomach fat places pressure on your abdomen, pushing gastric juices up into your esophagus.  Avoid foods known to cause reflux. If you're at risk for GERD, avoid: Fatty foods Spicy foods Acidic foods, like tomatoes and citrus Mint Chocolate Onions Coffee or any caffeinated beverage Carbonated beverages Eat smaller meals…
  • GERD Treatment Options
    In addition to managing lifestyle described here, treatment options include medication and surgery. Medication For chronic reflux and heartburn, the doctor may recommend medications to reduce acid in the stomach. These medicines include H2 blockers, which inhibit acid secretion in the stomach. H2 blockers include: cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), nizatidine (Axid), and ranitidine (Zantac). Another type of drug, the proton pump inhibitor (or acid pump), inhibits an enzyme (a protein in…
  • GERD Diagnosis and Tests
    How is GERD diagnosed? Medical History Your doctor will begin assessing you for GERD by reviewing your symptoms. If you are frequently experiencing classic GERD symptoms, your doctor can diagnose you on that basis. The two most common symptoms are: Heartburn.  Regurgitation Lab tests People with severe symptoms may need to undergo tests that can both verify GERD and help doctors assess the scope of the problem. These tests include: Barium X-rays: The patient is asked to drink barium…
  • GERD Signs and Symptoms
    What are the symptoms of GERD? A burning sensation in your chest (heartburn), sometimes spreading to your throat, along with a sour taste in your mouth When acid refluxes into the esophagus in patients with GERD, nerve fibers in the esophagus are stimulated, causing the pain that is characteristic of GERD. Heartburn usually is described as a burning pain in the middle of the chest. It may start high in the abdomen and may extend up into the neck.  Chest pain In some patients, the pain may…
  • GERD Causes and Risk Factors
    Risk factors for developing GERD are Obesity Pregnancy Smoking Spicy foods Acidic fruits and vegetables, like citrus or tomatoes Alcohol Garlic and onions Fried foods, or heavily fatty foods Causes of GERD are Lower esophageal sphincter abnormalities: When you swallow, the lower esophageal sphincter — a circular band of muscle around the bottom part of your esophagus — relaxes to allow food and liquid to flow down into your stomach. Then it closes again, so that the food cannot go back…
  • GERD
    What is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)? Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a digestive disorder. Gastroesophageal refers to the stomach and esophagus (food pipe). Reflux means to flow back or return. Gastroesophageal reflux is a condition in which the contents of the stomach (in liquid form) backs up or refluxes into the esophagus. The regurgitated liquid usually contains acid and pepsin that are produced by the stomach. (Pepsin is an enzyme that begins the digestion of proteins…
  • Control Acid Reflux With These Foods
    Nutritionist Kohila Govindaraju suggests easy recipes and lifestyle changes to manage heartburn or acid reflux. For those suffering from acid reflux, the pleasure of eating often turns into pain. Acid reflux occurs when the stomach acid and digestive enzymes flow backwards into the oesophagus (food pipe), irritating its lining. This is usually caused by the dysfunction of the lower esophageal muscle, which works to keep the stomach acids in the stomach. The result is a burning sensation in…
  • Delicious Navratan Khichdi Recipe
    A nutritious navratan khichdi that is filling and provides excellent quality protein. It can be adapted to pongal as well. Its tasty and easy to make! Excellent quality protein, loads of vegetables. Great for persons with diabetes too. Ingredients (Serves 6 people) 225g rice  50g soya nuggets (If you skip this for a more traditional option it will reduce the protein content) 55g arhar (toor) dal 55g chana dal 55g moong dal 55g masoor dal 100g potatoes 100g carrot 100g cabbage 50g…