GERD: Symptoms, Complications, and Treatment

Contents 

In this article, we will take a look at:

• What is GERD?
• How does GERD occur?
• Who is prone to GERD?
• Symptoms of GERD
• Diagnosis of GERD
• Complications of GERD
• Treatment for GERD

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What is GERD? 

GERD stands for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. This is a digestive issue that affects the lower oesophageal sphincter. It causes food in the stomach to come back up the oesophagus. GERD is a very common digestive ailment. The severity of the condition depends on the extent of damage to the sphincter muscle and the amount and type of fluid being brought up from the stomach. It is rarely life threatening but it can interfere with the person’s lifestyle and ability to work. GERD can affect anyone from young infants to elderly people.

How does GERD occur? 

The lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) allows food to pass into the stomach and under normal conditions keeps food from coming back up. However, sometimes the muscle becomes weak or begins to relax inappropriately. This allows the stomach’s content to come back up the oesophagus. This may be caused by:

• Obesity
• Hiatal hernia
• Stress
• Eating certain types of food

Who is prone to GERD? 

You could be at risk of developing GERD if:

• You are overweight or obese
• You eat large meals
• You lie down immediately after eating a meal
• You eat certain foods such as spicy foods, oily foods, citrus food, etc
• You drink carbonated drinks, coffee and tea excessively
• You smoke
• You are pregnant
• You take muscle relaxers or blood pressure medication

What are the symptoms of GERD? How is GERD diagnosed? 

The symptoms of GERD include:

• A burning sensation in the chest that is usually worse after eating or at night
• Regurgitating bile or food often
• Pain in the chest
• Difficulty swallowing
• Feeling a lump in the throat
• Chronic coughing
• Laryngitis
• Asthma
• Difficulty sleeping
• Bloating
• Bloody stools
• Burping

In the case of infants, symptoms could also include: b

• Discomfort
• Irritability
• Coughing
• Poor feeding
• Arching the back immediately after being fed

Heartburn, the most prominent symptom of GERD is often mistaken for a heart attack. One of the main differences between heartburn and the pain associated with a heart attack is that the latter tends to be aggravated after physical exertion. Heartburn is not affected by exercise or any kind of physical exertion.

Diagnosis

A physical examination is the first step to diagnosing GERD. The doctor may also need a few additional tests such as an upper endoscopy, ambulatory acid (pH) probe test, oesophageal manometry and X-ray of the upper digestive system.

What are the complications of GERD?

If not treated in time, GERD can cause a number of complications. As the disease progresses, the oesophagus can get inflamed. This can cause

• Oesophageal ulcers
• Narrowing of the oesophagus
• Development of scar tissue in the oesophagus
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Barrett's oesophagus or precancerous changes to the oesophagus

Thus, it can increase the risk of oesophageal cancer.

What is the treatment for GERD?

The first form of treatment for GERD usually involves over the counter medication and changes in lifestyle. If this does not help, the doctor may prescribe medication to help the muscle function properly. Long-term medication is not usually advisable as it can have severe side effects. One of the cases for GERD is prolonged use of antibiotics. In such cases, surgery may be recommended. There are two types of surgeries that may be used to treat GERD. These are minimally invasive procedures. Surgery is used in very rare cases.