»  Home  »  Cancer and Disease  »  Diseases and Conditions  »  An Overview of Heartburn and GERD
An Overview of Heartburn and GERD
By Nicky Pilkington | Published 09/8/2006 | Diseases and Conditions | Unrated
An Overview of Heartburn and GERD

GERD is an acronym which stands for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. GERD, which is commonly referred to as acid reflux, is a common medical condition not only in the United States, but around the world. GERD occurs when lower esophageal sphincter, which is responsible for keeping the stomach and esophagus separated, relaxes and allows contents from the stomach to reenter the stomach. The contents, because they are coming from the stomach, are extremely acidic and cause a burning sensation throughout the esophagus, hence the term "heartburn." GERD has a handful of symptoms that most sufferers experience at least occasionally. In addition to the sensation of heartburn, most sufferers experience problems such as hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, chest pains or sinusitis. Although it is normally just a discomfort, GERD can have some serious long-term effects.

For those who are frequent GERD sufferers or have severe cases of this condition, GERD can cause potential health risks. In addition to being extremely uncomfortable, this contents which come up from the stomach into the esophagus can cause damage. Because it is so acidic, this stomach substance can gradually eat away at the lining of the esophagus. In rare cases, GERD has been shown to actually cause esophageal cancer.

Now that you know the effects of GERD, you are probably wondering what you can do to avoid them. The answer to this question depends on your situation. The first step that any GERD sufferer can take to avoid future problems is identifying what normally triggers the problem. For some, it may be easiest to keep a food journal. This allows you to have a written record of what caused your symptoms to flare up. For others, just being conscious and remembering the foods that normally cause flare ups is enough. Once you have identified the normal triggers of your GERD, you should try as hard as possible to avoid these foods. If you forget to do so or your GERD flares up for other reasons, there are still alternate courses of action that you can take.

If avoiding an episode fails, the next best thing you can do is treat the problem when it arises. For many, this involves nothing more than taking an antacid during the course of a GERD outbreak. For others, this solution may not be sufficient. In that case, you will need to consult your doctor about the kind of medicines you should be taking to treat your more severe case of GERD.

GERD is a condition that affects millions of people around the world. Whether you experience mild or severe GERD, it is important to remember that you are not alone. There are doctors and friends alike who can help you and support you during your times of need.

Article Software
How would you rate the quality of this article?
1 2 3 4 5
Poor Excellent

Verification:
Enter the security code shown below:
imgRegenerate Image


Add comment
Comments
Nicky Pilkington
Find out more about Mental Health at http://healthandfinesse.com
http://pilkster.com 

View all articles by Nicky Pilkington
Article Options
Popular Articles
Popular Authors

Copyright 2008 Article Directory, Free Articles, Free Web Site Content. All rights reserved.
Home | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Legal Policy | Content Syndication | Site Map

Articles For Stem Cell Research | Car Crash Articles | Nutrition Health Articles | Articles On Classroom Management | Environmental Science Articles | Short Science Article | Article Swimming Pool Safety | Articles On Drunk Driving | Articles On School Violence | Articles Of Kids Science | Spirituality Articles | Educational Journal Articles | Science Current Event Article | Call Center Articles | Digital Content Publicity | Technology In The Classroom Articles | Digital Content Promotion | Earth Science Articles | Articles On Technology In Education | Good Housekeeping Wife Article | Articles On Technology Or Science | Articles On Racism | Nursing Research Articles | Article Journal Sports Youth | Mike Hersh Articles | Article Health And Fitness | New Technology Articles | Articles On Child Abuse | Current Health Article | Web Portal Content | Dynamic Financial Content | Free Financial Website Content | Financial Portal Content | Web Page Financial Content | Free Financial Content | Current Science Articles | Web Publishing Content | Saltwater Fishing Articles | Health Fitness Articles | Article Directory | Web Content | Content Provider | Free Articles | Web Site Content | Free Web Content | Web Publishing Content | Free Web Site Content | Content Syndication | Web Content Provider | Article Directories | Find Articles