Gastro-esophageal reflux disease is a digestive disorder which affects the muscle ring between the esophagus and stomach. In this disease, the stomach content is returned back into the esophagus. In normal digestion the lower esophageal sphincter or the muscle ring opens to allow food to pass into the stomach. Then the ring is closed to prevent food and acidic juice to flow back into the esophagus. In patients suffering from GERD disease, the lower esophageal sphincter is weak or it not relaxes properly. This allows the stomach content to flow up into the esophagus and therefore, leading to GERD.
Primary Causes of Acid Reflux Disease:
Your regular eating habits play significant role in triggering the disease. If you consume heavy meals and immediately go to sleep, then the chances of GERD increase. Another primary cause of GERD is excessive consumption of alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee, or tea. In case you are overweight, pregnant or on medication like aspirin, you may develop symptoms of acid reflux disease.
Primary Symptoms of GERD:
Burning sensation in the chest is the major symptom of GERD disorder. It is sometimes stretched to the throat and results in very sour taste in the mouth. The following are primary signs and symptoms of the disease:
- Regurgitation
- Difficulty swallowing
- Cough or wheezing
- Chest pain
- Hoarseness
- Sore throat
- Cough
If left undiagnosed and untreated, GERD can develop serious symptoms of Esophagitis. A few people also report symptoms of chronic sore throat, food allergies and cyclic vomiting.
GERD Diagnosis and Treatment:
If GERD symptoms are mild, you may skip the diagnosis. On the contrary if you experience serious symptoms then it is important to call upon your doctor. To diagnose the disease doctors perform a number of laboratory tests. Once diagnosis is completed, doctors recommend patients a few very important lifestyle changes along with some effective medication to treat the GERD. The highly recommended and the most effectively medication for GERD is Nexium. During the medication, patients must avoid certain drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Patients must consult the doctor if they experience any side-effect.