What is acid reflux disease?

Acid reflux disease, also known as GERD (Gastroesophageal Refulx Disease) affects millions of people all over the world. Acid reflux disease occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) doesn't close all the way after it opens to let food pass through. What happens is the acid in your stomach will move up your esophagus, causing an intense burning in your chest and throat. Many people think it is simply heartburn, but if this happens consistently you actually have acid reflux disease.

While its normal to have heartburn once and awhile from eating certain foods, it is not normally to experience it all the time. If you are eating through a bottle of antacids each day, you may need to seek medical advice to discuss your treatment options.

For some people, acid reflux isn't something to be concerned about and with a prescription medication; they feel fine and rarely have any other problems with it. For others, acid reflux is a serious condition that can lead to serious problems like stomach ulcers.

There are a number of reasons why people suffer from acid reflux disease. While most people experience acid reflux disease after a meal, there are millions that feel it all day long.

Some of the risk factors for acid reflux include the following:

• Lying down after you have recently eaten
  
• Eating large meals
  
• Eating spicy or citrus foods
  
• Being obese or overweight
  
• Snacking too close to bedtime
  
• Drinking carbonated beverages
• Smoking
  
• Pregnancy
  

As mentioned above, acid reflux usually feels like an intense burning in the chest or throat. Many people feel pain in other regions as well like your abdomen. Depending upon the severity of your condition, the pain may cause you to feel like this for several minutes or longer. In addition to the burning sensation, you may also experience a bit of regurgitation. This is when you have a sour tasting acid that has backed up into your throat or mouth. It is similar to vomiting, but it normally is a minimal amount.

Acid reflux disease comes with other symptoms as well like bloating, belching, nausea, bloody vomit, bloody stools, hiccups, weight loss, wheezing, chronic sore throat, hoarseness, or a dry cough. Many people also experience dysphagia, a narrowing of the esophagus leading to food being lodged in the throat.

While many people reach for a bottle of TUMs or antacid medication, seeking medical treatment is your best option for long-term relief from acid reflux disease. The rule of thumb is that you should speak to your doctor if you experience any acid reflux disease symptoms two or more times a week. You should also seek medical attention if the over-the-counter medications are not bringing you relief from acid reflux disease.

Depending upon the severity of your condition, your doctor may order additional testing to be done. This will include a barium swallow or esophagram. This is how they test for ulcers in the esophagus and stomach. You will need to swallow a solution and it will help doctors identify abnormalities on an x-ray. They may also call for an endoscopy. An endoscopy is where they will insert a long flexible tube with a light and camera on it down your throat. They will look for any abnormalities in the throat along with the lining of the stomach. Finally, if they are concerned, a biopsy may be done to test for infections or abnormalities that may indicate a serious problem.

In addition to following the advice of your doctor, you can also reduce your risk of dealing with acid reflux disease by losing weight, eating smaller meals, wearing looser clothing, and quitting smoking.