What is GERD – Definition, Symptoms and Causes of Acid Reflux
What is GERD
GERD, short for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, most commonly known as acid reflux is a medical condition which happens when the acid from the stomach comes in contact with the esophagus and produces a number of symptoms such as:
The acid reflux disease symptoms should not be taken for granted as they can be painful, unpleasant and life-disrupting. They can lead to more serious complications such as esophagitis, esophageal strictures and the condition called Barret’s esophagus.
GERD affects both men and women equally. This condition can also be found in children which might be caused by chronic vomiting in infancy and childhood and can even affect the child’s ability to grow normally. Pregnancy can also increase the symptoms of acid reflux as pregnant women tend to experience heartburn on a daily basis.
What Causes GERD
In order to fully understand what causes GERD, it will be helpful to know how the digestive system works. The structure and function of the digestive system starts from the mouth all the way to the anus.
Each organs have different functions and work together to accomplish the dual purpose of the digestive system; that is to extract liquid and nourishment from the food we eat and second is to eliminate the waste materials that’s been left over after the liquid and nutrients have been extracted.
Digestion starts in the mouth where the food is chewed and easily flow down into the throat through the saliva that is secreted. It travels down into the esophagus into the stomach where much of the breaking down of food happens. The esophagus serves as transport system that propels food and liquid from the mouth into the stomach. Once the food leaves the stomach, it goes into the small intestines and then through the large intestines (colon) and rectum and then exits the body through the anus.
Since we are discussing how GERD happens, the two concerned areas are the esophagus and the stomach. These organs are directly connected but they are located on different areas of the body. The esophagus can be found in the thoracic (chest) cavity while the stomach is located below the diaphragm. These are openings in the diaphragm that makes it possible for major blood vessels and organs of the digestive system to communicate between the chest and the abdomen. This is called hiatus. The opening called the esophageal hiatus (the point where the esophagus passes through the diaphragm) is where the potential problem lies when it comes to acid reflux. When this opening widens, it can create another medical condition called hiatal hernias.
How GERD happens
The esophagus is connected to the stomach through an area called gastroesophageal junction or GE function in short. This is where the muscle called lower esophageal sphincter (LES) can be found which plays a pivotal role in preventing GERD when its functioning properly and causes GERD when its not. In normal situations, the LES is contracted or closed to prevent food, liquid and acid from regurgitating upward from the stomach into the esophagus. Clearly, it opens up when it allows food or liquid to pass from the esophagus into the stomach and then tightens again once its done. GERD happens when the LES is weak and does not contract properly and relaxed too often. If it fails to close and if it relaxes too long, then acid is splash back into the esophagus and thus leading to GERD.
The symptoms of GERD is felt when the lining of the esophagus becomes irritated by the acid that is swept back from the stomach The esophagus has defense mechanisms such as muscular contractions to block this acid or through the saliva that can help neutralize this acid. In cases when the amount of acid that refluxes is too great, the esophagus would not be able to recover fast and that’s when GERD happens. This episode wherein the esophagus comes in contact with the acid can be felt through heartburn which can last for a few minutes and even more for some people.
Treatment for this medical disorder includes over the counter and prescribed medications as well as natural cures for acid reflux
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