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Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) FAQs

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease FAQs Introduction

The chest pain of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can be confused with pain from a heart problem. If you have any of the following, call your doctor and/or go immediately to the closest hospital emergency department:

What is GERD?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which the esophagus (food pipe) becomes irritated or inflamed by stomach contents, including acid, backing up from the stomach. This backing up is called reflux. The main symptom is heartburn, but other symptoms may occur.

What is heartburn?

Heartburn is a burning pain in the center of the chest, behind the breastbone (see Media file 1). It often starts in the upper abdomen and spreads up into the neck. It usually starts about 30-60 minutes after eating and can last as long as 2 hours. Lying down or bending over can bring on heartburn or make it worse. It is sometimes referred to as acid indigestion. Not everyone with GERD has heartburn.



Next: Does GERD affect my heart? »

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Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) FAQs

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 ref...

Read the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) article »



Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease »

Gastroesophageal reflux is a normal physiological phenomenon experienced intermittently by most people, particularly after a meal.

Read More on eMedicine »

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