Commonly known as acid reflux or dyspepsia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is regurgitation of stomach acid into the esophagus, causing pain in the upper abdomen and chest. It is usually due to poor functioning of the sphincter muscle in the esophagus, which normally prevents regurgitation of the stomach contents. Factors that may result in GERD include poor muscle tone in the sphincter, pressure in the abdomen due to pregnancy or obesity, or a hiatal hernia.
Symptoms include heartburn, an acid taste in the mouth, a persistent cough, belching, and in severe cases blood in the vomit or feces. GERD can often be treated with self-help measures, such as eating smaller meals, losing any excess weight, and using over-the-counter heartburn remedies.
If such measures are ineffective, a doctor may prescribe medication to reduce stomach acidity. Severe, persistent GERD may be treated with surgery

Othere related diseases

IRRITABLE BOWEL SYNDROME
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a long-term condition in which there is intermittent abdominal pain and constipation, diarrhea, or bouts of each in the absenc...

JAUNDICE
Jaundice is yellow discoloration of the whites of the eyes and skin, and is the chief sign of many disorders of the liver and biliary system. It is caused by th...

LACTOSE INTOLERANCE
In lactose intolerance, the body cannot digest lactose, a natural sugar in milk and dairy products. The condition usually appears in adolescence or adulthood an...

LEUKOPLAKIA
In leukoplakia, there are small, thickened, white patches in the mouth, usually on the lining of the mouth or tongue, but sometimes on the gums or floor of the ...

LIVER CANCER
Most cancerous liver tumors are due to a cancer having spread from another part of the body (metastases), most commonly from a cancer in the colon (bowel), stom...

LIVER FAILURE
In liver failure, normal functioning of the liver is severely impaired. It may occur suddenly (acute liver failure), for example, as a result of acute hepatitis...

MALABSORPTION
Malabsorption is a general term for impaired absorption of nutrients by the small intestine. It may be caused by many conditions, including cystic fibrosis , ce...

MECKELS DIVERTICULUM
Meckel’s diverticulum is a small, hollow, wide-mouthed pouch that protrudes from the last part of the small intestine. The pouch is present at birth.
It ...