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

Pharmacy Author:

Annette (Gbemudu) Ogbru, PharmD, MBA

Annette (Gbemudu) Ogbru, PharmD, MBA

View Full Profile

Medical and Pharmacy Editor:

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

View Full Profile

The food a person swallows travels from the mouth to the stomach through a hollow tube called the esophagus (the food pipe). Before entering the stomach, food must pass through a tight muscle at the lower part of the esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES is a defense mechanism that prevents food from traveling backward into the esophagus.

In the stomach, stomach acid assists in beginning the digestion of food. This acid is very strong and can damage most parts of the body. The stomach is protected from its own acid by a special mucous layer. The esophagus, however, does not have any such special protection. If the LES does not close properly, the lower part of the esophagus can be damaged by stomach acid and GERD can occur. When this happens, a person may experience heartburn.

Conditions such as hiatal hernia, pregnancy, obesity, or diabetes may predispose individuals to reflux disease. Also certain medications (beta agonists, calcium channel blockers, nitrates, anticholinergics) and foods (fatty meals, alcohol, coffee etc.) can cause transient relaxation of the LES muscle, which renders the LES inadequate to prevent reflux into the esophagus. As a result GERD develops.

Infants, particularly premature infants, commonly experience reflux disease, and adults over the age of 40 have a higher prevalence of GERD.

Must Read Articles Related to Understanding Heartburn/GERD Medications

Acid Reflux Disease (GERD) Acid reflux (GERD) is caused by acid backing up from the stomach. Causes of acid reflux include smoking, obesity, alcohol, medications, diet, and other medical ...learn more >>

Heartburn Heartburn is a symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Heartburn symptoms include a burning feeling in the chest, hoarseness, chronic cough, sore th...learn more >>

Laryngitis Laryngitis means inflammation or swelling of the voice box (larynx). Laryngitis can be caused by overusing the voice, bacterial or fungal, infections, or infect...learn more >>

See the Entire Understanding Heartburn/GERD Medications Topic Guide »