When to Seek Medical Care
Although many people can relieve their reflux disease symptoms by changes in their habits and lifestyle, others need to consult their health care provider.
Call your health care provider when symptoms of GERD occur frequently, disrupt your sleep, interfere with work or other activities, or are not relieved by self-care measures alone.
Make your health care provider aware that you are using self-care measures so that he or she can monitor how well they work and how often you need to use them.
If you have any of the following, go immediately to the closest emergency department:
Severe chest pain or pressure, especially if it radiates to your arm, neck, or back
Vomiting followed by severe chest pain
Vomiting blood
Dark, tarry stools
Difficulty swallowing solids or liquids
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Reflux Disease (GERD) Symptoms
Persistent heartburn is the most common symptom of GERD.
Heartburn is a burning pain in the center of the chest, behind the breastbone. It often starts in the upper abdomen and spreads up into the neck.
The pain can last as long as 2 hours.
Heartburn is usually worse after eating.
Lying down or bending over can bring on heartburn or make it worse.
The pain usually does not start or get worse with physical activity.
Heartburn is sometimes referred to as acid indigestion.
Not everyone with GERD has heartburn.
Other symptoms of GERD include the following:
Regurgitation of bitter acid up into the throat while sleeping or bending over
Bitter taste in the mouth
Persistent dry cough
Hoarseness (especially in the morning)
Feeling of tightness in the throat, as if a piece of food is stuck there
Wheezing
The most common symptoms in children are repeated vomiting, coughing, and other respiratory problems.
Heartburn is a burning pain in the center of the chest, behind the breastbone. It often starts in the upper abdomen and spreads up into the neck.
The pain can last as long as 2 hours.
Heartburn is usually worse after eating.
Lying down or bending over can bring on heartburn or make it worse.
The pain usually does not start or get worse with physical activity.
Heartburn is sometimes referred to as acid indigestion.
Not everyone with GERD has heartburn.
Other symptoms of GERD include the following:
Regurgitation of bitter acid up into the throat while sleeping or bending over
Bitter taste in the mouth
Persistent dry cough
Hoarseness (especially in the morning)
Feeling of tightness in the throat, as if a piece of food is stuck there
Wheezing
The most common symptoms in children are repeated vomiting, coughing, and other respiratory problems.
Reflux Disease (GERD) Causes
No one knows the exact cause of gastroesophageal reflux. The following are several contributing factors that weaken or relax the lower esophageal sphincter, making reflux worse:
Lifestyle - Use of alcohol or cigarettes, obesity, poor posture (slouching)
Medications - Calcium channel blockers, theophylline (Tedral, Hydrophed, Marax, Bronchial, Quibron), nitrates, antihistamines
Diet - Fatty and fried foods, chocolate, garlic and onions, drinks with caffeine, acid foods such as citrus fruits and tomatoes, spicy foods, mint flavorings
Eating habits - Eating large meals, eating soon before bedtime
Other medical conditions - Hiatal hernia, pregnancy, diabetes, rapid weight gain
Hiatal hernia is a condition when the upper part of the stomach protrudes up above the diaphragm (the strong muscle that separates the organs of the chest from those of the abdomen).
Normally, the diaphragm acts as an additional barrier, helping the lower esophageal sphincter keep acid from backing up into the esophagus.
A hiatal hernia makes it easier for the acid to back up.
Hiatal hernia can be caused by persistent coughing, vomiting, straining, or sudden physical exertion. Obesity and pregnancy can make the condition worse.
Hiatal hernia is very common in people older than 50 years.
Hiatal hernia usually requires no treatment. In rare cases when the hernia becomes twisted or is making GERD worse, surgery may be required.
Lifestyle - Use of alcohol or cigarettes, obesity, poor posture (slouching)
Medications - Calcium channel blockers, theophylline (Tedral, Hydrophed, Marax, Bronchial, Quibron), nitrates, antihistamines
Diet - Fatty and fried foods, chocolate, garlic and onions, drinks with caffeine, acid foods such as citrus fruits and tomatoes, spicy foods, mint flavorings
Eating habits - Eating large meals, eating soon before bedtime
Other medical conditions - Hiatal hernia, pregnancy, diabetes, rapid weight gain
Hiatal hernia is a condition when the upper part of the stomach protrudes up above the diaphragm (the strong muscle that separates the organs of the chest from those of the abdomen).
Normally, the diaphragm acts as an additional barrier, helping the lower esophageal sphincter keep acid from backing up into the esophagus.
A hiatal hernia makes it easier for the acid to back up.
Hiatal hernia can be caused by persistent coughing, vomiting, straining, or sudden physical exertion. Obesity and pregnancy can make the condition worse.
Hiatal hernia is very common in people older than 50 years.
Hiatal hernia usually requires no treatment. In rare cases when the hernia becomes twisted or is making GERD worse, surgery may be required.
Reflux Disease (GERD) Overview
Reflux Disease (GERD) Overview
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which the esophagus becomes irritated or inflamed because of acid backing up from the stomach. The esophagus or food pipe is the tube stretching from the throat to the stomach. When food is swallowed, it travels down the esophagus.
The stomach produces hydrochloric acid after a meal to aid in the digestion of food.
The inner lining of the stomach resists corrosion by this acid. The cells that line the stomach secrete large amounts of protective mucus.
The lining of the esophagus does not share these resistant features and stomach acid can damage it.
The esophagus lies just behind the heart, so the term heartburn was coined to describe the sensation of acid burning the esophagus (see Media file 1).
Normally, a ring of muscle at the bottom of the esophagus, called the lower esophageal sphincter, prevents reflux (or backing up) of acid.
This sphincter relaxes during swallowing to allow food to pass. It then tightens to prevent flow in the opposite direction.
With GERD, however, the sphincter relaxes between swallows, allowing stomach contents and corrosive acid to well up and damage the lining of the esophagus.
GERD affects nearly one third of the adult population of the United States to some degree at least once a month. Almost 10% of adults experience GERD weekly or daily. Not just adults are affected; even infants and children can have GERD.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which the esophagus becomes irritated or inflamed because of acid backing up from the stomach. The esophagus or food pipe is the tube stretching from the throat to the stomach. When food is swallowed, it travels down the esophagus.
The stomach produces hydrochloric acid after a meal to aid in the digestion of food.
The inner lining of the stomach resists corrosion by this acid. The cells that line the stomach secrete large amounts of protective mucus.
The lining of the esophagus does not share these resistant features and stomach acid can damage it.
The esophagus lies just behind the heart, so the term heartburn was coined to describe the sensation of acid burning the esophagus (see Media file 1).
Normally, a ring of muscle at the bottom of the esophagus, called the lower esophageal sphincter, prevents reflux (or backing up) of acid.
This sphincter relaxes during swallowing to allow food to pass. It then tightens to prevent flow in the opposite direction.
With GERD, however, the sphincter relaxes between swallows, allowing stomach contents and corrosive acid to well up and damage the lining of the esophagus.
GERD affects nearly one third of the adult population of the United States to some degree at least once a month. Almost 10% of adults experience GERD weekly or daily. Not just adults are affected; even infants and children can have GERD.
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