Also called: Also called: Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Your esophagus is the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) happens when a muscle at the end of your esophagus does not close properly. This allows stomach contents to leak back, or reflux, into the esophagus and irritate it.
You may feel a burning in the chest or throat called heartburn. Sometimes, you can taste stomach fluid in the back of the mouth. This is acid indigestion. If you have these symptoms more than twice a week, you may have GERD.
Anyone, including infants and children, can have GERD. If not treated, it can lead to more serious health problems. In some cases, you might need medicines or surgery. However, many people can improve their symptoms by
- Avoiding alcohol and spicy, fatty or acidic foods that trigger heartburn
- Eating smaller meals
- Not eating close to bedtime
- Losing weight if needed
- Wearing loose-fitting clothes
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
-
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/gerd/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/gerdspanish/htm/index.htm -
Heartburn, Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER), and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gerd/
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease(National Jewish Health) - http://www.nationaljewish.org/disease-info/diseases/asthma/about/relate-other/gastro-reflux.aspx
- Understanding GERD(American College of Gastroenterology) - http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/gerd/word.asp
- Acid Reflux Linked to Chronic Croup(09/22/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69529.html
- Gastric Band Weight-Loss Surgery Can Boost Reflux(08/22/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68469.html
- 24-Hour Esophageal pH Test(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/esophageal_ph_test/hic_24-hour_esophageal_ph_test.aspx
- 48-Hour Bravo Esophageal pH Test(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/esophageal_ph_test/hic_the_48-hour_bravo_esophageal_ph_test.aspx
-
Upper Endoscopy(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/upperendoscopy/
-
Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract X-Ray (Radiography)(American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America) - http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?pg=uppergi
Also available in Spanish http://www.radiologyinfo.org/sp/info.cfm?pg=uppergi
-
Upper GI Endoscopy(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/uppergiendoscopy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/uppergiendoscopyspanish/htm/index.htm
-
Antacids and Acid Reducers: OTC Relief for Heartburn and Acid Reflux(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/otc-center/otc-medicines/854.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/otc-center/otc-medicines/854.printerview.html
-
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) - http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/healthInfo.cfm?infotype=sg&DocID=2&ProcessID=1
Also available in Spanish http://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/healthInfo.cfm?infotype=sg&DocID=3&ProcessID=1&language=spanish
-
Laparoscopic Anti-Reflux Surgery(Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons) - http://www.sages.org/publications/publication.php?id=PI01
Also available in Spanish http://www.sages.org/publications/publication.php?id=PI01S
-
Treating Heartburn, Acid Reflux, and Ulcers - The PPIs(Consumers Union of U.S.) - http://www.consumerreports.org/health/best-buy-drugs/heartburn_ppi.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.consumerreports.org/health/resources/pdf/best-buy-drugs/PPIsUpdate-2pager-Spanish-FINAL.pdf
-
Dyspepsia: What It Is and What to Do about It(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/digestive/disorders/474.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/digestive/disorders/474.printerview.html
- Esophageal Spasms(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/esophageal-spasms/DS00763/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) and Asthma(American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology) - http://www.aaaai.org/patients/seniorsandasthma/gerd.stm
- GERD, Barrett's Esophagus and the Risk for Esophageal Cancer(American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy) - http://www.asge.org/PatientInfoIndex.aspx?id=402
- GERD: Can Certain Medications Increase Severity?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/heartburn-gerd/AN00720/METHOD=print
- Make the Best Choice for Your Endoscopic Procedure(American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy) - http://www.asge.org/PatientInfoIndex.aspx?id=376
- Understanding Esophageal Dilation(American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy) - http://www.asge.org/PatientInfoIndex.aspx?id=392
- Measure Yourself on the "Richter Scale" Acid Test(American College of Gastroenterology) - http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/gerd/acidtest.asp
-
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/gerd/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/gerdspanish/htm/index.htm
-
Upper GI Endoscopy(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/uppergiendoscopy/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/uppergiendoscopyspanish/htm/index.htm
- Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication Surgery(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program - 11/29/2006 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=355
- Pediatric Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication(OR-Live) - Requires media player - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=192
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Gastroesophageal Reflux(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Gastroesophageal+Reflux%22
- Are Too Many Babies Taking Antireflux Medications?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/research/reflux_meds.html
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Clinical practice. Gastroesophageal reflux disease. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18923172&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Mucin gene expression in human laryngeal epithelia: effect of laryngopharyngeal... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18834073&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: ...Maybe they can be avoided in some kids with reflux.... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18828186&tool=MedlinePlus
- GERD -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=gastroesophageal+reflux[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[MeSH]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: Find a Doctor(American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy) - http://www.asge.org/Apps/FindADoctor/search.aspx
- GI Physician Locator(American College of Gastroenterology) - http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/phylocator.asp
- Locate a Pediatric Gastroenterologist(North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition) - http://www.naspghan.org/aspModules/PublicLocateDoctor/PublicLocateDoctor.asp
- American College of Gastroenterology - http://www.acg.gi.org/
- Children's Digestive Health and Nutrition Foundation - http://www.cdhnf.org/
-
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/
- North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition(North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition) - http://www.naspghan.org/
-
Gastroesophageal Reflux in Children and Adolescents(National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gerinchildren/
-
Gastroesophageal Reflux in Infants(National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse) - http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/gerdinfant/
- Have You Heard of GERD?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/stomach/gerd.html
- Laryngopharyngeal Reflux and Children(American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery) - http://www.entnet.org/HealthInformation/laryngopharyngealReflux.cfm
- Nexium Approved for Children 1 to 11 Years Old(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/nexium030308.html
- Pediatric GERD(Children's Digestive Health and Nutrition Foundation) - Requires Flash Player - http://gerd.cdhnf.org/
-
Spitting Up in Babies(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/infants/218.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/children/parents/infants/218.printerview.html
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/diseases_conditions/digestive/gerd.html
- Heartburn Or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)(American College of Gastroenterology) - http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/women/whatisgerd.asp
- Esophagus Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/esophagusdisorders.html
- Heartburn - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/heartburn.html
- Hiatal Hernia - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hiatalhernia.html
- Digestive System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/digestivesystem.html
The primary NIH organization for research on GERD is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/