Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Submitted by Thiruvelan on 13th Dec 2011 | Last updated 12 January 2017
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastro esophageal reflux disease is a digestive disorder due to weak esophagus leads to acid reflux from stomach causing heartburn.

What Is GERD?

Gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a digestive disorder appear to be associated with esophagus, tube carries food from the mouth to stomach.

Lower esophageal sphincter LES function

A muscular ring at the lower end of the esophagus connecting stomach act as a valve called lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Normally the valve opens only when there is food or liquid from the mouth to stomach, otherwise closed tightly not allowing any food from stomach back into esophagus.

Weak LES or excess stomach pressure causes heartburn

Some people has weak LES, which leaks back the stomach content back into the esophagus called acid reflux. This acidic stomach content inflame the esophageal lining causing heartburn and other symptoms of GERD.

Excess stomach pressure forced to relax LES. Its cause is unknown, but gastric distension (bloating of the stomach when air pumped into it) thought to play a role. This stomach bloating may be due to bad microorganism waiting to consume food and releases gas.

How effective or serious are the GERD medications?

Over the counter medications for acid reflux can cure the symptoms (best said as suppress symptoms) that too temporarily. Additionally, these medications cause notorious side effects include headaches, muscle cramps, rapid heart rate and further upset the digestion. 

Prolong use of these medications can lead to serious nutrient deficiencies such as vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium, etc.

Additionally, these medications can further complicates your digestive problems and can lead to poor digestion, anemia, fatigue, depression and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

All GERD medications are gastric acid suppression associated with an increased risk of harmful microbial infection including life threatening C. difficile infection. Gastric acid suppression favor suitable environment for harmful microbes thus leads to low beneficial microbes in your gut called dysbiosis.