Digestive Disorders Health Channel

	Feature Article Illustrations for this article Click on an image below to enlarge Digestive system Upper gastrointestinal system Show all 3 photos Gastroesophageal reflux disease Definition Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which food or liquid travels backwards from the stomach to the esophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach). This action can irritate the esophagus, causing heartburn and other symptoms. Alternative Names Peptic esophagitis; Reflux esophagitis; GERD; Heartburn - chronic Causes, incidence, and risk factors Gastroesophageal reflux is a common condition that often occurs without symptoms after meals. In some people, the reflux is related to a problem with the lower esophageal sphincter, a band of muscle fibers that usually closes off the esophagus from the stomach. If this sphincter doesn't close properly, food and liquid can move backward into the esophagus and may cause the symptoms. The risk factors for reflux include hiatal hernia (a condition in which part of the stomach moves above the diaphragm, which is the muscle that separates the chest and abdominal cavities), pregnancy, and scleroderma. A number of studies suggest that obesity contributes to gastroesophageal reflux. For instance, the Nurses Health Study found that being overweight or obese significantly increased reflux symptoms in women. (Women who lost weight in the study, meanwhile, had fewer symptoms.) Heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux can be brought on or worsened by pregnancy and by many different medications. Such drugs include: Anticholinergics (e.g. for seasickness) Beta blockers for high blood pressure or heart disease Bronchodilators for asthma Calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure Dopamine-active drugs for Parkinson's disease Progestin for abnormal menstrual bleeding or birth control Sedatives for insomnia or anxiety Tricyclic antidepressants If you suspect that one of your medications may be causing heartburn, talk to your doctor. Never change or stop medication you take regularly without talking to your doctor. Symptoms Belching Cough or wheezing Difficulty swallowing Heartburn Involves a burning pain in the chest (under the breastbone) Increased by bending, stooping, lying down, or eating More frequent or worse at night Relieved by antacids Hoarseness or change in voice Nausea and vomiting Regurgitation of food Sore throat Vomiting blood Signs and tests A number of tests may help diagnose reflux or identify complications: A barium swallow showing reflux A positive Bernstein test for gastric acid reflux Continuous esophageal pH monitoring showing reflux Endoscopy showing ulceration or inflammation of the esophagus, or Barrett's esophagus Esophageal manometr ... Continue reading this article

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