Raising GERD Awareness: Be Aware of Heartburn

World Wide GERD Awareness Week November 22nd-28th

Gastroesophageal disease is one of the most commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal disorders in the United States. As of 2004, medications for treating GERD totaled $10 billion and were one of the top five selling prescriptions prescribed in America.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, is a chronic condition in which happens because of changes in the barrier between the esophagus and stomach, causing a back-up in stomach acid and food.  GERD can also occur because of an incomplete lower esophageal sphincter, hiatal hernia, a transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation, or an impairment of the gastric action of the esophagus. The respiratory and laryngeal systems can also experience GERD, which is referred to as extraesophageal reflux disease or EERD.

The 11th annual “GERD Awareness Week” is November 22nd-28th, and is designed to help raise people’s awareness of the disorder.   The International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders increases efforts to help support GERD awareness, through public education, service and information and reaching out through media outlets. 

Symptoms and Treatment of GERD

Heartburn and GERD are two different conditions, with heartburn being a side effect of the disease, however, not everyone with GERD experiences heartburn.  The following symptoms can be experienced when someone has GERD:

·         Frequent heartburn

·         Sore throat

·         Hoarseness

·         Laryngitis

·         Chronic dry cough or frequent coughing: in both adults and infants

·         Feeling like there is something stuck in the throat

·         Chest pain or discomfort

·         Bad breath

·         Earaches

·         Asthma

·         Failure to thrive: in infants with GERD

There are a variety of different ways to treat and manage the symptoms of GERD.  The goal of treatment is to bring the symptoms of the disease under control and improve the quality of life for the person, to heal the damaged esophagus, to prevent a stricture and to maintain the symptoms of the disease into remission.  A diagnosis of GERD can only be made by a medical physician after a physical and history of the patient has been taken.

Common treatment of the disease involves making lifestyle and dietary changes and avoiding the factors that bring on the symptoms of GERD.  While dietary habits do not cause GERD, certain foods can bring on heartburn and should be avoided.  Gravity also plays an important role in controlling the reflux experienced with GERD, raising the head of the bed to a 90° angle or remaining upright for 30 minutes after eating, can alleviate reflux and prevent the symptoms of GERD.

Being overweight and smoking also increases the risk of a person developing GERD, so experts recommend a person lose weight and stop smoking if GERD is experienced.  Antacids can reduce the symptoms of heartburn and neutralize stomach acid, thereby alleviating the symptoms of GERD.  There are also other over-the-counter and prescription medications that can be prescribed for relieving the symptoms of GERD and make the disease more manageable.  Surgery for GERD is only used when all other methods to treat the disease have failed or when certain GERD-related complications persist.

Read More: Home Remedies for Heartburn: 20+ Food Items from Your Kitchen

Overview

GERD is a common disease experienced by people of all ages, races and genders.  Treatment of the disease can be done through proper medications, patient education, lifestyle and dietary changes and following the recommendations of a licensed medical professional.  A person can live with GERD and reduce the occurrence through a wide variety of different methods, and go on to live a healthier more comfortable life when the disease is brought under control and properly managed.