Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is when the contents of your stomach persistently move back up into your esophagus. These contents sometimes contain excessive acid and may cause irritation and pain.
Many people may experience acid reflux, indigestion, or heartburn from time to time. However, if you experience acid reflux symptoms more than twice per week, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
GERD affects about 20%Trusted Source of people in the United States. If left untreated, it may lead to serious complications.
Read on to learn more about the symptoms, causes, and treatments for GERD.
Symptoms of GERD
The most common symptom of GERD is persistent heartburn, which may involve:
a burning feeling in your stomach that may rise to your chest, neck, and throat
a sour or bitter taste at the back of your mouth
regurgitation of food or liquid from your stomach into your mouth
Other possible symptoms of GERD include:
a feeling of fullness or of a lump in the back of your throat (globus sensation)
chronic cough
a hoarse voice
bad breath
In some cases, people may experience symptoms associated with GERD. These are typically persistent and could progressively worsen despite medical treatment. Alarm symptoms may also indicate an underlying condition.
Alarm symptoms may include:
difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
pain when swallowing (odynophagia)
nausea or vomiting
weight loss
anemia
bleeding
If you’re experiencing any of these, get medical attention.
Symptoms in infants
It’s normal for babies to sometimes spit up food or vomit. But if your baby is frequently spitting or vomiting, they may have GERD.
Other signs and symptoms of GERD in infants might include:
refusal to eat
trouble swallowing
gagging or choking
wet burps or hiccups
irritability or arching of the back during or after feeding
weight loss or poor growth
recurring cough or pneumonia
difficulty sleeping
If you suspect that your baby might have GERD or another health condition, speak with a doctor.
Causes of GERD
GERD commonly causes acid reflux, which may result from improper functioning of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).
The LES is a circular band of muscle at the end of your esophagus. When you swallow, it relaxes and opens up to allow food and liquid to travel from your mouth to your stomach. Then, it tightens and closes again.
Acid reflux happens when your LES doesn’t tighten or close properly. This allows digestive juices and other contents of your stomach to rise up into your esophagus.
Your LES may not function properly if you:
Have a hiatal hernia: This occurs when part of your stomach moves above your diaphragm toward your chest. If your diaphragm is compromised, it may prevent your LES from functioning properly.
Frequently eat large meals: This may cause distension of the upper part of your stomach. This distension sometimes means there isn’t enough pressure on the LES, and it doesn’t close properly.
Lie down too soon after meals: This might not create enough pressure for the LES to function properly.
Other factors, including those listed below, may also contribute to having heartburn more than twice a week.
Lifestyle factors that may contribute to persistent reflux with esophageal inflammation include:
smoking or being exposed to secondhand smoke
eating large meals before lying down
using an abundance of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen
Health factors
Health factors such as the following may contribute to GERD:
obesity
pregnancy
connective tissue disorders
older age
Other conditions
Other health conditions that can worsen the symptoms of GERD include:
anxiety
pregnancy
asthma
irritable bowel syndrome
Alcohol
Studies suggest that drinking alcohol may increase the risk of GERD. The greater the quantity of alcohol and frequency of consumption, the greater the correlation.
If you’ve received a diagnosis of GERD, limiting or stopping alcohol intake may provide symptom relief.
Dietary triggers
Some foods may trigger GERD symptoms more than others, including:
high fat foods such as fried and fast foods
spicy foods
certain fruits and vegetables, such as pineapple, tomato, and citrus
certain liquids, such as coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks
Alcohol
Studies suggest that drinking alcohol may increase the risk of GERD. The greater the quantity of alcohol and frequency of consumption, the greater the correlation.
If you’ve received a diagnosis of GERD, limiting or stopping alcohol intake may provide symptom relief.
Dietary triggers
Some foods may trigger GERD symptoms more than others, including:
high fat foods such as fried and fast foods
spicy foods
certain fruits and vegetables, such as pineapple, tomato, and citrus
certain liquids, such as coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks
Alcohol
Studies suggest that drinking alcohol may increase the risk of GERD. The greater the quantity of alcohol and frequency of consumption, the greater the correlation.
If you’ve received a diagnosis of GERD, limiting or stopping alcohol intake may provide symptom relief.
Dietary triggers
Some foods may trigger GERD symptoms more than others, including:
high fat foods such as fried and fast foods
spicy foods
certain fruits and vegetables, such as pineapple, tomato, and citrus
certain liquids, such as coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks
Medication
If lifestyle strategies alone don’t help treat GERD, a doctor might prescribe medications to decrease your stomach acid secretion, since acid reflux is a common manifestation of GERD.
These may include:
proton pump inhibitors
antacids
H2 receptor blockers
Consult a doctor before taking medications because they may have negative side effects.
Surgery
In most cases, lifestyle strategies and medications are enough to prevent and relieve symptoms of GERD.
However, a doctor might recommend surgery if these approaches haven’t stopped your symptoms or if you’ve developed complications.
Possible surgery options include:
fundoplication
LINX reflux management system
bariatric surgery
Complications of untreated GERD
For most people, GERD doesn’t cause serious complications.
However, in rare cases, it may lead to serious or life threatening health problems such as:
esophagitis, which is inflammation of your esophagus
esophageal stricture, which happens when your esophagus narrows or tightens
Barrett’s esophagus, which involves permanent changes to the lining of your esophagus
esophageal cancer, which affects a small portion of people with Barrett’s esophagus
tooth enamel erosion, gum disease, or other dental problems
To lower your chances of complications, it’s important to take the steps to prevent, manage, and treat symptoms of GERD.
