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May 20, 2013


Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) FAQs Glossary of Terms

The following are health and medical definitions of terms that appear in the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) FAQs article.

Abdomen: The belly, that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the...

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Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient.

Acid indigestion: Excessive secretion of hydrochloric acid by the stomach cells. Medically...

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Acid reflux: A common condition and an abnormal one in which acid in the stomach rises up...

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Aluminum: A naturally occurring element that makes up about 8% of the surface of the earth...

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Angina: Chest pain due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle. The pain is ...

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Antihistamines: Drugs that combat the histamine released during an allergic reaction by bl...

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Aspirin: Once the Bayer trademark for acetylsalicylic acid, now the common name for this a...

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Barium: 1. A metallic element belonging to the alkaline earths with an atomic numbe...

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Barium swallow: A test that involves filling the esophagus, stomach, and small intestines ...

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Biochemical: Relating to biochemistry, the application of the tools and concepts of chemis...

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Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is...

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Caffeine: A stimulant compound found naturally in coffee, tea, cocoa (chocolate), and kola...

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Calcium: A mineral found mainly in the hard part of bones, where it is stored. Calcium is ...

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Cancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, ...

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Capsule: Capsule has many meanings in medicine including the following:

  1. In medici...

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Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t...

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Chest pain: Pain in the chest that can be a result of many things, including angina, heart...

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Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

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Constipation: Infrequent and frequently incomplete bowel movements. Constipation is the op...

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Contraction: The tightening and shortening of a muscle.

Contrast: Short for "contrast media." Contrast media are X-ray dyes used to provide contra...

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Cough: A rapid expulsion of air from the lungs, typically in order to clear the lung airwa...

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Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell...

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Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

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Diarrhea: A common condition that involves unusually frequent and liquid bowel movements. ...

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Digestive system: The system of organs responsible for getting food into and out of the bo...

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Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

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Endoscope: A lighted optical instrument that is used to get a deep look inside the body. A...

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Endoscopy: Examination of the inside of the body by using a lighted, flexible instrument c...

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Esophageal: Related to the esophagus.

Esophageal reflux: A condition wherein stomach contents regurgitate or back up (reflux) in...

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Esophagitis: Inflammation of the esophagus.

Esophagus: The tube that connects the pharynx (throat) with the stomach. The esophagus lie...

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Fundoplication: A surgical technique that strengthens the barrier to acid reflux when the ...

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Garlic: A perennial herb of the lily family cultivated for its pungent, edible bulbs. Garl...

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Gastroenterologist: A physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases...

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Gastroenterology: The medical specialty devoted to the study, diagnosis and treatment of d...

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Gastroesophageal: Pertaining to both the stomach and the esophagus, as in the gastroesopha...

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Gastroesophageal reflux: The return of stomach contents back up into the esophagus This fr...

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Gastrointestinal: Adjective referring collectively to the stomach and small and large inte...

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GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

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Heartburn: An uncomfortable feeling of burning and warmth occurring in waves rising up be...

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Hernia: A general term referring to a protrusion of a tissue through the wall of the cavit...

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Hiatal: Pertaining to an hiatus, an opening.

Hiatal hernia: An anatomical abnormality in which part of the stomach protrudes up through...

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Hiatus: An opening, as in the diaphragm. When there is an unusually wide opening in the di...

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Hoarseness: Hoarseness is a term referring to abnormal voice changes. Hoarseness may be ma...

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Ibuprofen: A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is commonly used to treat pa...

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Inflammation: A localized reaction that produces redness, warmth, swelling, and pain as a ...

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Internal medicine: The medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and medical treatment ...

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Magnesium: A mineral involved in many processes in the body including nerve signaling, the...

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Manometry: The measurement of pressure using a device called a manometer. Esophageal manom...

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Mouth: 1. The upper opening of the digestive tract, beginning with the lips and con...

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Mucus: A thick fluid that is produced by the lining of some organs of the body.

Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T...

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Neck: The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders. Also, any narrow or constric...

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Nose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c...

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Obese: Well above ones normal weight. A person has traditionally been considered to be obe...

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Obesity: The state of being well above one's normal weight.

Operation: In medicine, a surgical procedure. Many operations are named after persons. The...

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Overweight: The term "overweight" is used in two different ways. In one sense it is a way ...

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PA-C: Physician Assistant - Certified.

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

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Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

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Posture: The carriage of the body as a whole, the attitude of the body, or the position of...

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Pregnancy: The state of carrying a developing embryo or fetus within the female body. Thi...

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Prescription: A physician's order for the preparation and administration of a drug or dev...

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Reflux: The term used when liquid backs up into the esophagus from the stomach.

Regurgitation: A backward flowing. For example, vomiting is a regurgitation of food from t...

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Relapse: The return of signs and symptoms of a disease after a remission.

Respiratory: Having to do with respiration.

Rule out: Term used in medicine, meaning to eliminate or exclude something from considera...

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Sleep: The body's rest cycle.

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Spasm: A brief, automatic jerking movement. A muscle spasm can be quite painful, with the ...

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Stomach: The digestive organ that is located in the upper abdomen, under the ribs. The upp...

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Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

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Symptom: Any subjective evidence of disease. In contrast, a sign is objective. Blood comin...

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Taste: A perception that results from stimulation of a gustatory nerve. Taste belongs to t...

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Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

Throat: The throat is the anterior (front) portion of the neck beginning at the back of th...

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Upper GI series: A series of x-rays of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine (upper ...

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Voice box: The voice box, or larynx, is the portion of the respiratory (breathing) tract ...

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Wheezing: A whistling noise in the chest during breathing. Wheezing occurs when the airway...

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