Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) FAQs Glossary of Terms

1. Heartburn: Foods to Eat, Foods to Avoid Slideshow Pictures
2. Digestive Disease Myths Slideshow Pictures
3. Take the GERD Quiz

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1. In medici...

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

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

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

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

Contraction: The tightening and shortening of a muscle.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Esophageal: Related to the esophagus.

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

Esophagitis: Inflammation of the esophagus.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease.

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

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

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

Hiatal: Pertaining to an hiatus, an opening.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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...

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

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

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

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

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

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

PA-C: Physician Assistant - Certified.

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

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

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

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

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

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...

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...

Sleep: The body's rest cycle.

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

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

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

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

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

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...

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

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

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