GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE (GERD)
WHAT IS GERD?
When you eat, the particles travel from your
mouth into your stomach by the help of a
tube known as the esophagus.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, also
known as GERD, is a condition in which
contents from your stomach (liquid, food,
acid) flow backwards, or reflux, into your
esophagus, throat, or mouth. This reflux
irritates the lining of your esophagus, which
causes uncomfortable troublesome
symptoms, such as heartburn (acid reflux),
and possible damage to the lining of your
esophagus.
RISK FACTORS
● Risk factors include, but are not
limited to the following:
○ Obesity
○ Tobacco use
○ High- fat diet
○ Pregnancy
○ Genetics
○ Medications
○ Hiatal hernia
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
● The main symptoms of GERD
include:
○ Heartburn (burning sensation
behind your breast bone)
○ Regurgitation (feeling of
food or acid in your throat or
mouth)
● You may experience other or
additional symptoms including:
○ Upper belly discomfort
○ Chest pain
○ Cough
○ Change in voice (hoarseness)
○ Difficulty breathing
● Symptoms are likely to occur 30-60
minutes after eating large fatty
meals, spicy foods, tomato products,
citrus fruits, chocolate, carbonated
beverages, and/or alcohol
● Symptoms may worsen while laying
down or bending over after eating, or
during the night
● If you are experiencing any of the
above symptoms on 2 or more days
per week, you may have GERD.
Your healthcare provider is usually
able to diagnose you with GERD
based on your symptoms alone.
● More serious symptoms include:
difficulty or painful swallowing,
changes in your bowel habits such as
 bloody or dark tarry stools, and
unintentional weight loss. Contact
your healthcare provider
immediately.
● Complications include: erosive
esophagitis, peptic stricture, Barrett’s
esophagus, esophageal
adenocarcinoma
MANAGEMENT
● Lifestyle, diet, medical, surgical
● For many patients, lifestyle changes
and diet modifications may relieve
your symptoms. These changes
include:
○ Weight loss
○ Tobacco cessation
○ Avoid foods that promote
symptoms- coffee, alcohol,
chocolate, peppermint,
carbonated drinks, spicy
foods
○ Eating smaller, more frequent
meals
○ Early meals (6 hours before
bedtime)
○ Head-of-the-bed elevation
(6-10 inches)
● If these changes do not improve your
symptoms, your provider may
prescribe you a trial of medications.
● Heartburn may be relieved by taking
an over-the-counter antacid, such as
Tums.
● Your provider may ask you to try a
short-term 2 week trial of
medications which work to lower the
amount of acid in your stomach.
Some of these medications can be
bought over-the-counter or supplied
through your local pharmacy. These
include:
○ Antacids, H2-receptor
antagonists, and proton-pump
inhibitors (PPIs).
○ Review how to properly take
your medication and possible
medication side effects, such
as increased risk of infections
or low vitamin levels, with
your pharmacist or healthcare
provider.
● If symptoms do resolve, your
provider may write you a
prescription for long-term treatment.
● If symptoms do not resolve through
lifestyle changes or medications, you
may receive further testing such as
an endoscopy.
● If your symptoms are severe enough,
you may be a candidate for a
fundoplication surgery, which wraps
the top of your stomach around the
end of your esophagus to create a
barrier from reflux back flowing.
SCREENING & PREVENTIVE
MEASURES
● There are currently no
recommendations for routine
screening.
● Your health care provider may
decide to screen you for
complications of GERD if you are
experiencing alarming symptoms,
such as painful or difficult
swallowing, or if your symptoms do
 not improve while taking your
medication as instructed.
● Your provider may chose to screen
you for Barrett’s Esophagus, a
complication of GERD in which the
tissues of your esophagus change the
way they look under a microscope, if
you are over 50 years of age and
have been experiencing symptoms of
GERD for at least 5 years.
● An endoscopy, or camera that goes
down your esophagus to look into
your stomach, lets your provider see
any damage or complications from
GERD.
● High dietary fiber, aerobic exercise
(some exercises such as __ may
worsen symptoms)
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON GERD
Speak with your healthcare provider
https://medlineplus.gov/gerd.html
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