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Gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD) is a long-term health condition where the acid from the belly moves up into the esophagus persistently. It is also comprehended as acid regurgitation or gastroesophageal reflux. The signs of GERD may cause critical irritation and discomfort, and in more severe cases, it may lead to ulcers in the esophagus. When these symptoms are neglected or not supplied, treatment on time might raise the danger of oesophageal cancer.
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Keyterms: GERD, oesophageal cancer, esophagus, gastroesophageal reflux, acid, stomach, H2 Blockers, Antacids, Prokinetics, Erythromycin
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Causes of GERD
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The occurrence of Acid reflux infrequently is pretty common however, recurring acid reflux that is diagnosed as GERD typically has several causes & risk factors and might have few serious consequences.
GERD takes place when the sphincter at the bottom of the esophagus becomes weak, or opens when it should not. GERD is commonly caused because of the following ways:
- Hiatal hernias
- Lower esophageal sphincter abnormalities
- Abnormal esophageal contractions
- Slow emptying of the stomach
GERD can most commonly occur in the people following in either of the following categories:
- Overweight or obese people as there is increased pressure in the abdomen.
- Pregnant ladies due to the increased pressure in the abdomen.
- Some medications also trigger GERD for example, asthma medications, calcium channel blockers medications, etc.
- Smoking or the people who are exposed to passive smoking.
Symptoms of GERD
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One of the most common symptoms of GERD is heartburn i.e. acid indigestion which usually feels like a burning chest pain that begins behind the breastbone and moves up towards the neck and throat.
In other cases, GERD can cause difficulty swallowing and can sometimes lead to problems in breathing such as chronic cough or asthma. Besides these, other symptoms which are less apparent include:
- Hoarseness of voice
- Breathing problem
- Barrett’s esophagus
- Persistent cough
- Burning sensation in the chest
- Vomiting or nausea
- Respiratory problems
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Complications in GERD
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If the symptoms of GERD are ignored for a long period or are left untreated then it may cause some serious complications. GERD symptoms can get worse if they are not treated on time. The serious complications lead due to ignorance or late treatment of GERD includes:
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Esophagitis
This is an inflammation of the esophagus
-
Esophageal stricture
It’s the condition in which the esophagus becomes narrow which will create difficulty in swallowing.
-
Barrett’s esophagus
The cells lining the esophagus may change into cells that will be similar to the lining of the intestine. It can develop into cancer.
-
Respiratory problems
It may cause a range of problems which include chest congestion, asthma, laryngitis, and pneumonia, etc.
Treatment of GERD
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The problem of GERD can be prevented by reducing the amount of the production of acid by the stomach. There are few treatments done to treat GERD for example, GERD can be treated with proton pump inhibitors. They help treat GERD by reducing the amount of acid which is produced by the stomach.
The list of other common methods used for the treatment of GERD includes:
- H2 Blockers
- Antacids
- Prokinetics
- Erythromycin
In case the medications don’t have any desired effect or do not improve the symptoms of GERD then surgical treatments can also be used for the treatment. The surgical treatment involves:
- Fundoplication
- Endoscopic procedures
Things to remember
- The therapeutic name for GERD is Gastroesophageal reflux disease.
- It may result from a dysfunctional valve at the top of the stomach & bottom of the esophagus.
- Its symptoms include heartburn, Breathing problem, Barrett’s esophagus, Persistent cough, and burning sensation in the chest, etc.
- It is believed that if a person experiences the symptoms of acid reflux more than twice a week then, the person might have a GERD condition.
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Sample questions
Ques: What are the tests used to diagnose GERD? (3 Marks)
Ans: There are various possible tests to diagnose the GERN problem. The names of the diagnoses tests involve:
- Esophageal pH & impedance monitoring
- Upper gastrointestinal endoscope
- Upper GI series
- Esophageal manometry
- Bravo wireless esophageal pH monitoring
Ques: What is Hiatal hernia? (2 Marks)
Ans: It is one of the circumstances of GRED where an opening in the diaphragm enables the top of the stomach to move up inside the chest. This reduces the tension/pressure in the esophageal sphincter and raises the chances of GERD.
Ques: What are the basic precautions that need to be taken for reducing the risk of GERD? (2 Marks)
Ans: There are few precautionary steps that an individual should apply in their daily life to reduce the risk of GERD such as:
Maintaining healthy weight
Quit smoking
Reduce stress
Ques: What type of food should be avoided that trigger GERD symptoms? (3 Marks)
Ans: Certain types of foods trigger the symptoms of GERD and should be avoided by an individual. The types of food include:
- Food having tomato products
- Spicy food
- Greasy food
- Coffee
- Greasy food
- Chocolate
- Peppermint
- Alcohol
Ques: What is the difference between GERD and Heartburn? (2 Marks)
Ans: GERD and heartburn are two different things and should not be treated similarly. Heartburn is a common symptom of acid reflux and is experienced by more people from time to time. Whereas, GERD is a chronic type of acid reflux that can cause severe complications if not treated on time.
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