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WHAT IS ACID REFLUX DISEASE?
(also known as GERD)Acid Reflux Disease also known as GERD(gastroesophageal reflux disease), is very common and affects millions of American adults and children. Acid reflux occurs when liquids and food from the stomach regurgitate or reflux into the esophagus and sometimes out the mouth.
The esophagus is a long tube that carries food and liquids from your mouth to your stomach. A valve called the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES, is located at the bottom of the esophagus. Normally, this valve opens to let food and liquids into your stomach and then closes again so it doesn't come back out. But, when this valve between the stomach and the esophagus becomes weak and relaxes, it causes the contents of the stomach, which includes acid, to back up into the esophagus. The stomach acids burn the esophagus because it does not have the same protective coating that the stomach has. This causes a very uncomforable burning sensation beginning behind the breastbone and upward to the neck and throat.Sometimes, in a minority of people, the refluxed liquid of the stomach can damage the lining of the esophagus if it stays in there long enough. This would be a very chronic condition of acid reflux disease or GERD.
Reflux is actually a normal occurance in most people. The difference between someone with acid reflux and someone with normal reflux is that the regurgitated liquid from the stomach contains more acid and it remains in the esophagus for a longer period of time. Acid is more likely to remain in the esophagus longer when the reflux occurs at night. This is because the person is lying down, so the acid is less likely to flow back down into the stomach, causing burning or damage to the esophagus. When acid reflux only occurs every now and then, it's normal. When it occurs on a regular basis or two or more times a week, this could be a more chronic condition of acid reflux disease.
A person may be more susceptible to acid reflux if they have certain conditions. An example would be pregnancy. The growing fetus causes pressure in the abdomen, increasing reflux. Some diseases may also weaken the esophogeal muscles such as scleroderma, mixed connective tissue diseases and ear and sinus infections which cause a person to be more likely to develop acid reflux.
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