BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuGastroesophageal reflux diseasePeptic esophagitis; Reflux esophagitis; GERD; Heartburn - chronic; Dyspepsia - GERDGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which the stomach contents leak backward from the stomach into the esophagus (food pipe). Food travels from your mouth to the stomach through your esophagus. GERD can irritate the food pipe and cause heartburn and other symptoms.Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsers Causes When you eat, food passes from the throat to the stomach through the esophagus. A ring of muscle fibers in the lower esophagus prevents swallowed food from moving back up. These muscle fibers are called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).When this ring of muscle does not close all the way, stomach contents can leak back into the esophagus. This is called reflux or gastroesophageal reflux. Reflux may cause symptoms. Harsh stomach acids can also damage the lining of the esophagus.Previous imagePlay SlideshowStop SlideshowNext image / The risk factors for reflux include:Use of alcohol (possibly) Hiatal hernia (a condition in which part of the stomach moves above the diaphragm, which is the muscle that separates the chest and abdominal cavities) Hiatal herniaHiatal hernia is a condition in which part of the stomach extends through an opening of the diaphragm into the chest. The diaphragm is the sheet of ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Obesity ObesityObesity means weighing more than what is healthy for a given height. Obesity is a serious, chronic disease. It can lead to other health problems, i...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pregnancy PregnancyGrowing a baby is hard work. Your body will go through a lot of changes as your baby grows and your hormones change. Along with the aches and pains...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Scleroderma SclerodermaScleroderma is a disease that involves the buildup of fibrous tissue in the skin and elsewhere in the body. It also damages the cells that line the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Smoking or tobacco use Lying down within 3 hours after eating Heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux can be caused by or made worse by pregnancy. Symptoms can also be caused by certain medicines, such as:Anticholinergics (for example, sea sickness medicine) Beta-blockers for high blood pressure or heart disease Bronchodilators for asthma or other lung diseases AsthmaAsthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow. It leads to breathing difficulty such as wheezing, shortness o...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure High blood pressureBlood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood to your body. Hypertension is the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Dopamine-active drugs for Parkinson disease Parkinson diseaseParkinson disease results from certain brain cells dying. These cells help control movement and coordination. The disease leads to shaking (tremors...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Progestin for abnormal menstrual bleeding or birth control Sedatives for insomnia or anxiety Theophylline (for asthma or other lung diseases) Tricyclic antidepressants Talk to your health care provider if you think one of your medicines may be causing heartburn. Never change or stop taking a medicine without first talking to your provider.No audio descriptionWith audio descriptionRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsers Symptoms Common symptoms of GERD include:Feeling that food is stuck behind the breastbone Heartburn or a burning pain in the chest HeartburnHeartburn is a painful burning feeling just below or behind the breastbone. Most of the time, it comes from the esophagus. The pain often rises in ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nausea after eating Less common symptoms are:Bringing food back up (regurgitation) Cough or wheezing CoughCoughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. But too much coughing may mean you have a disease or disorder. Some coughs are d...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article WheezingWheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound during breathing. It occurs when air moves through narrowed breathing tubes in the lungs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Difficulty swallowing Difficulty swallowingDifficulty with swallowing is the feeling that food or liquid is stuck in the throat or at any point before the food enters the stomach. This proble...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hiccups HiccupsA hiccup is an unintentional movement (spasm) of the diaphragm, the muscle at the base of the lungs. The spasm is followed by quick closing of the v...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Hoarseness or change in voice HoarsenessHoarseness refers to difficulty making sounds when trying to speak. Vocal sounds may be weak, breathy, scratchy, or husky, and the pitch or quality ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sore throatSore throatPharyngitis, or sore throat, is discomfort, pain, or scratchiness in the throat. It often makes it painful to swallow.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms may get worse when you bend over or lie down, or after you eat. Symptoms may also be worse at night. Exams and Tests You may not need any tests if your symptoms are mild.If your symptoms are severe or they come back after you have been treated, your provider may recommend a test called an upper endoscopy (EGD).Upper endoscopyEsophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is a test to examine the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine (the duodenum)....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article This is a test to examine the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine. It is done with a small camera (flexible endoscope) that is inserted down the throat.You may also be recommended to have one or more of the following tests:A test that measures how often stomach acid enters the esophagus A test to measure the pressure inside the lower part of the esophagus (esophageal manometry)Esophageal manometryEsophageal manometry is a test to measure how well the esophagus is working.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article A positive stool occult blood test may diagnose bleeding that is coming from the irritation in the esophagus, stomach, or intestines.Stool occult blood testThe stool guaiac test looks for hidden (occult) blood in a stool sample. It can find blood even if you cannot see it yourself. It is a common type ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment You can make many lifestyle changes to help treat your symptoms such as avoiding tobacco, alcohol, or foods that cause your symptoms.Lifestyle changesGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which the stomach contents leak backwards from the stomach into the esophagus (the tube from...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other tips include:If you are overweight or obese, in many cases, losing weight can help. Raise the head of the bed if your symptoms get worse at night. Have your dinner 2 to 3 hours before going to sleep. Avoid drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn). Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) to relieve pain. Take all of your medicines with plenty of water. When your provider gives you a new medicine, ask whether it will make your heartburn worse.You may use over-the-counter antacids after meals and at bedtime, although the relief may not last very long. Common side effects of antacids include diarrhea or constipation.Over-the-counter antacidsAntacids help to treat heartburn (indigestion). They work by neutralizing the stomach acid that causes heartburn. You can buy many antacids without ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other over-the-counter and prescription medicines can treat GERD. They work more slowly than antacids, but give you longer relief. Your pharmacist, provider, or nurse can tell you how to take these medicines.Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) decrease the amount of acid produced in your stomach. H2 blockers also lower the amount of acid released in the stomach.Anti-reflux surgery may be an option for people whose symptoms do not go away with lifestyle changes and medicines. Heartburn and other symptoms should improve after surgery. But you may still need to take medicines for your heartburn.There are also new therapies for reflux that can be performed through an endoscope (a flexible tube passed through the mouth into the stomach). Outlook (Prognosis) Most people respond to lifestyle changes and medicines. However, many people need to continue taking medicines to control their symptoms. Possible Complications Complications may include:Worsening of asthma AsthmaAsthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow. It leads to breathing difficulty such as wheezing, shortness o...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article A change in the lining of the esophagus that can increase the risk of cancer (Barrett esophagus) Barrett esophagusBarrett esophagus (BE) is a disorder in which the lining of the esophagus is damaged by stomach acid leading to changes in the cells of the lining. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bronchospasm (irritation and spasm of the airways due to acid) Long-term (chronic) cough or hoarseness Dental problems Ulcer in the esophagus UlcerAn ulcer is a crater-like sore on the skin or mucous membrane. Ulcers form when the top layers of skin or tissue have been removed. They can occur ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Stricture (a narrowing of the esophagus due to scarring from chronic irritation) When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if symptoms do not improve with lifestyle changes or medicine.Also contact if you have:Bleeding Choking (coughing, shortness of breath) Feeling filled up quickly when eating Frequent vomiting Hoarseness Loss of appetite Trouble swallowing (dysphagia) or pain with swallowing (odynophagia) Weight loss A feeling like food or pills are sticking behind the breast bone Prevention Avoiding factors that cause heartburn may help prevent symptoms. Obesity is linked to GERD. Maintaining a healthy body weight may help prevent the condition.HeartburnHeartburn is a painful burning feeling just below or behind the breastbone. Most of the time, it comes from the esophagus. The pain often rises in ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesFalk GW, Katzka DA. Diseases of the esophagus. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 124.Katz PO, Dunbar KB, Schnoll-Sussman FH, Greer KB, Yadlapati R, Spechler SJ. ACG Clinical Guideline for the diagnosis and management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2022;117(1):27-56. PMID: 34807007 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34807007/.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Acid reflux (GER & GERD) in adults. www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/acid-reflux-ger-gerd-adults. Updated July 2020. Accessed February 10, 2024.Richter JE, Vaezi MF. Gastroesophageal reflux disease. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 46.AllVideoImagesTogHeartburnAnimation No audio descriptionWith audio descriptionRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersHeartburn - Animation Eating spicy foods, such as pizza, may cause a person to feel heartburn. Although the name may imply the heart, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart itself. Heartburn is pain felt in the chest by a burning sensation in the esophagus. Here, you can see the pizza passing from the mouth to the esophagus and on to the stomach. At the junction between the stomach and esophagus is the lower esophageal sphincter. This muscular sphincter acts as a valve that normally keeps food and stomach acid in the stomach, and prevents the stomach’s contents from regurgitating back into the esophagus. However, certain foods may affect the lower esophageal sphincter, making it less effective. That’s how heartburn begins. The stomach produces hydrochloric acid to digest food. The stomach has a mucous lining that protects it from hydrochloric acid, but the esophagus does not. So, when food and stomach acid regurgitate back into the esophagus, a burning feeling is felt near the heart. This feeling is known as heartburn. Antacids may be used to relieve heartburn by making stomach juices less acidic, thereby reducing the burning feeling felt in the esophagus. If heartburn becomes frequent or prolonged, medical intervention may be necessary to correct the problem.Anti-reflux surgeryAnimation Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersAnti-reflux surgery - Animation You've just finished eating a double chili dog, when it hits. That burning, belching feeling, like your dinner has taken a detour back up your throat. You've got heartburn, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, for short. When heartburn becomes a frequent, unwelcome visitor and you're tired of taking medicine to treat it, your doctor may recommend surgery. Normally when you eat, food passes down this tube, called the esophagus. It crosses your diaphragm and enters your stomach through a hole. Sometimes the muscles where your esophagus and stomach meet don't close tightly enough, and this weakness allows acids from your stomach to back up into your esophagus, causing heartburn. The hole in your diaphragm may also be too big, letting part of your stomach slip into an opening in your chest. That's called a hiatal hernia, and it can make your heartburn symptoms even worse. If you don't want to take heartburn medicine anymore, or if you're dealing with complications like ulcers or bleeding in your esophagus, your doctor may recommend surgery to fix your hiatal hernia. Usually the surgery you'll have is called fundoplication. Fundoplication is done while you're under general anesthesia, which means that you'll be asleep and you won't feel any pain. Before your surgery, your doctor will ask you to stop taking drugs like aspirin or warfarin, which makes it harder for your blood to clot. Also, you shouldn't eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery. If you have open surgery, the surgeon will make one large cut in your belly area. With laparoscopic surgery, there are more cuts, but they're much smaller. The surgeon will use a thin tube with a camera attached to see through these tiny holes and perform the surgery. A newer form of the procedure passes a special camera down your mouth into your esophagus. Whatever way the surgery is done, the goal is to close your hiatal hernia with stitches and tighten the opening in your diaphragm to keep your stomach from poking through. The surgeon will also wrap the upper part of your stomach around the end of your esophagus so that acids from your stomach can't back up into your esophagus. Just like any procedure, hiatal hernia surgery can have risks. You might have bleeding, an infection, breathing problems, bloating, or pain when you swallow. Call your doctor for any symptoms that bother you or don't go away. Expect to stay in the hospital for about 4 to 6 days, and then spend a month to 6 weeks recovering at home with the open surgical procedure. Laparoscopic surgery will shorten your hospital stay to 1 to 3 days, and you'll be back on your feet and at work in just 2 to 3 weeks. Anti-reflux surgery is safe, and it works. After your surgery, you should have fewer problems with heartburn. But if that burning feeling creeps back up again, you might need to have a repeat surgery. To avoid another procedure, take your heartburn medicine if you need it. Oh, and take it easy on those chili dogs!Digestive system - illustration The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.Digestive systemillustrationGastroesophageal reflux disease - illustration A band of muscle fibers, the lower esophageal sphincter, closes off the esophagus from the stomach. If the sphincter does not close properly, food and liquid can move backward into the esophagus and cause heartburn and other symptoms known as gastroesophageal disease (GERD). To alleviate symptoms dietary changes and medications are prescribed. For a patient who has persistent symptoms despite medical treatment, an anti-reflux operation may be an option.Gastroesophageal reflux diseaseillustrationGastroesophageal reflux - seriesPresentation HeartburnAnimation No audio descriptionWith audio descriptionRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersHeartburn - Animation Eating spicy foods, such as pizza, may cause a person to feel heartburn. Although the name may imply the heart, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart itself. Heartburn is pain felt in the chest by a burning sensation in the esophagus. Here, you can see the pizza passing from the mouth to the esophagus and on to the stomach. At the junction between the stomach and esophagus is the lower esophageal sphincter. This muscular sphincter acts as a valve that normally keeps food and stomach acid in the stomach, and prevents the stomach’s contents from regurgitating back into the esophagus. However, certain foods may affect the lower esophageal sphincter, making it less effective. That’s how heartburn begins. The stomach produces hydrochloric acid to digest food. The stomach has a mucous lining that protects it from hydrochloric acid, but the esophagus does not. So, when food and stomach acid regurgitate back into the esophagus, a burning feeling is felt near the heart. This feeling is known as heartburn. Antacids may be used to relieve heartburn by making stomach juices less acidic, thereby reducing the burning feeling felt in the esophagus. If heartburn becomes frequent or prolonged, medical intervention may be necessary to correct the problem.Anti-reflux surgeryAnimation Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersAnti-reflux surgery - Animation You've just finished eating a double chili dog, when it hits. That burning, belching feeling, like your dinner has taken a detour back up your throat. You've got heartburn, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, for short. When heartburn becomes a frequent, unwelcome visitor and you're tired of taking medicine to treat it, your doctor may recommend surgery. Normally when you eat, food passes down this tube, called the esophagus. It crosses your diaphragm and enters your stomach through a hole. Sometimes the muscles where your esophagus and stomach meet don't close tightly enough, and this weakness allows acids from your stomach to back up into your esophagus, causing heartburn. The hole in your diaphragm may also be too big, letting part of your stomach slip into an opening in your chest. That's called a hiatal hernia, and it can make your heartburn symptoms even worse. If you don't want to take heartburn medicine anymore, or if you're dealing with complications like ulcers or bleeding in your esophagus, your doctor may recommend surgery to fix your hiatal hernia. Usually the surgery you'll have is called fundoplication. Fundoplication is done while you're under general anesthesia, which means that you'll be asleep and you won't feel any pain. Before your surgery, your doctor will ask you to stop taking drugs like aspirin or warfarin, which makes it harder for your blood to clot. Also, you shouldn't eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery. If you have open surgery, the surgeon will make one large cut in your belly area. With laparoscopic surgery, there are more cuts, but they're much smaller. The surgeon will use a thin tube with a camera attached to see through these tiny holes and perform the surgery. A newer form of the procedure passes a special camera down your mouth into your esophagus. Whatever way the surgery is done, the goal is to close your hiatal hernia with stitches and tighten the opening in your diaphragm to keep your stomach from poking through. The surgeon will also wrap the upper part of your stomach around the end of your esophagus so that acids from your stomach can't back up into your esophagus. Just like any procedure, hiatal hernia surgery can have risks. You might have bleeding, an infection, breathing problems, bloating, or pain when you swallow. Call your doctor for any symptoms that bother you or don't go away. Expect to stay in the hospital for about 4 to 6 days, and then spend a month to 6 weeks recovering at home with the open surgical procedure. Laparoscopic surgery will shorten your hospital stay to 1 to 3 days, and you'll be back on your feet and at work in just 2 to 3 weeks. Anti-reflux surgery is safe, and it works. After your surgery, you should have fewer problems with heartburn. But if that burning feeling creeps back up again, you might need to have a repeat surgery. To avoid another procedure, take your heartburn medicine if you need it. Oh, and take it easy on those chili dogs!Digestive system - illustration The esophagus, stomach, large and small intestine, aided by the liver, gallbladder and pancreas convert the nutritive components of food into energy and break down the non-nutritive components into waste to be excreted.Digestive systemillustrationGastroesophageal reflux disease - illustration A band of muscle fibers, the lower esophageal sphincter, closes off the esophagus from the stomach. If the sphincter does not close properly, food and liquid can move backward into the esophagus and cause heartburn and other symptoms known as gastroesophageal disease (GERD). To alleviate symptoms dietary changes and medications are prescribed. For a patient who has persistent symptoms despite medical treatment, an anti-reflux operation may be an option.Gastroesophageal reflux diseaseillustration Gastroesophageal reflux - seriesPresentation A Closer Look Gastroesophageal reflux disease(Alt. Medicine)Gastroesophageal reflux disease and heartburn - InDepth(In-Depth)Talking to your MD Heartburn - what to ask your providerSelf Care Taking antacids Tests for Gastroesophageal reflux disease Esophageal pH monitoringRelated Information Erosion(Symptoms)Barrett esophagus(Condition)Anti-reflux surgery - children(Surgery)Anti-reflux surgery(Surgery)Gastroesophageal reflux - discharge(Discharge)Taking antacids(Self-Care)Heartburn - what to ask your provider(Doctor Questions)Anti-reflux surgery - children - discharge (Discharge)Anti-reflux surgery - discharge (Discharge)Gastroesophageal reflux disease and heartburn - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 1/30/2023 Reviewed By: Michael M. Phillips, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC. Internal review and update on 02/10/2024 by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. 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Gastroesophageal reflux diseasePeptic esophagitis; Reflux esophagitis; GERD; Heartburn - chronic; Dyspepsia - GERDGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which the stomach contents leak backward from the stomach into the esophagus (food pipe). Food travels from your mouth to the stomach through your esophagus. GERD can irritate the food pipe and cause heartburn and other symptoms.Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsers Causes When you eat, food passes from the throat to the stomach through the esophagus. A ring of muscle fibers in the lower esophagus prevents swallowed food from moving back up. These muscle fibers are called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).When this ring of muscle does not close all the way, stomach contents can leak back into the esophagus. This is called reflux or gastroesophageal reflux. Reflux may cause symptoms. Harsh stomach acids can also damage the lining of the esophagus.Previous imagePlay SlideshowStop SlideshowNext image / The risk factors for reflux include:Use of alcohol (possibly) Hiatal hernia (a condition in which part of the stomach moves above the diaphragm, which is the muscle that separates the chest and abdominal cavities) Hiatal herniaHiatal hernia is a condition in which part of the stomach extends through an opening of the diaphragm into the chest. The diaphragm is the sheet of ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Obesity ObesityObesity means weighing more than what is healthy for a given height. Obesity is a serious, chronic disease. It can lead to other health problems, i...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pregnancy PregnancyGrowing a baby is hard work. Your body will go through a lot of changes as your baby grows and your hormones change. Along with the aches and pains...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Scleroderma SclerodermaScleroderma is a disease that involves the buildup of fibrous tissue in the skin and elsewhere in the body. It also damages the cells that line the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Smoking or tobacco use Lying down within 3 hours after eating Heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux can be caused by or made worse by pregnancy. Symptoms can also be caused by certain medicines, such as:Anticholinergics (for example, sea sickness medicine) Beta-blockers for high blood pressure or heart disease Bronchodilators for asthma or other lung diseases AsthmaAsthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow. It leads to breathing difficulty such as wheezing, shortness o...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure High blood pressureBlood pressure is a measurement of the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood to your body. Hypertension is the ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Dopamine-active drugs for Parkinson disease Parkinson diseaseParkinson disease results from certain brain cells dying. These cells help control movement and coordination. The disease leads to shaking (tremors...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Progestin for abnormal menstrual bleeding or birth control Sedatives for insomnia or anxiety Theophylline (for asthma or other lung diseases) Tricyclic antidepressants Talk to your health care provider if you think one of your medicines may be causing heartburn. Never change or stop taking a medicine without first talking to your provider.No audio descriptionWith audio descriptionRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersRelated video goes here for no-HTML5 browsers Symptoms Common symptoms of GERD include:Feeling that food is stuck behind the breastbone Heartburn or a burning pain in the chest HeartburnHeartburn is a painful burning feeling just below or behind the breastbone. Most of the time, it comes from the esophagus. The pain often rises in ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nausea after eating Less common symptoms are:Bringing food back up (regurgitation) Cough or wheezing CoughCoughing is an important way to keep your throat and airways clear. But too much coughing may mean you have a disease or disorder. Some coughs are d...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article WheezingWheezing is a high-pitched whistling sound during breathing. It occurs when air moves through narrowed breathing tubes in the lungs.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Difficulty swallowing Difficulty swallowingDifficulty with swallowing is the feeling that food or liquid is stuck in the throat or at any point before the food enters the stomach. This proble...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hiccups HiccupsA hiccup is an unintentional movement (spasm) of the diaphragm, the muscle at the base of the lungs. The spasm is followed by quick closing of the v...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Hoarseness or change in voice HoarsenessHoarseness refers to difficulty making sounds when trying to speak. Vocal sounds may be weak, breathy, scratchy, or husky, and the pitch or quality ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sore throatSore throatPharyngitis, or sore throat, is discomfort, pain, or scratchiness in the throat. It often makes it painful to swallow.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Symptoms may get worse when you bend over or lie down, or after you eat. Symptoms may also be worse at night. Exams and Tests You may not need any tests if your symptoms are mild.If your symptoms are severe or they come back after you have been treated, your provider may recommend a test called an upper endoscopy (EGD).Upper endoscopyEsophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is a test to examine the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine (the duodenum)....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article This is a test to examine the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine. It is done with a small camera (flexible endoscope) that is inserted down the throat.You may also be recommended to have one or more of the following tests:A test that measures how often stomach acid enters the esophagus A test to measure the pressure inside the lower part of the esophagus (esophageal manometry)Esophageal manometryEsophageal manometry is a test to measure how well the esophagus is working.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article A positive stool occult blood test may diagnose bleeding that is coming from the irritation in the esophagus, stomach, or intestines.Stool occult blood testThe stool guaiac test looks for hidden (occult) blood in a stool sample. It can find blood even if you cannot see it yourself. It is a common type ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment You can make many lifestyle changes to help treat your symptoms such as avoiding tobacco, alcohol, or foods that cause your symptoms.Lifestyle changesGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which the stomach contents leak backwards from the stomach into the esophagus (the tube from...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other tips include:If you are overweight or obese, in many cases, losing weight can help. Raise the head of the bed if your symptoms get worse at night. Have your dinner 2 to 3 hours before going to sleep. Avoid drugs such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn). Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) to relieve pain. Take all of your medicines with plenty of water. When your provider gives you a new medicine, ask whether it will make your heartburn worse.You may use over-the-counter antacids after meals and at bedtime, although the relief may not last very long. Common side effects of antacids include diarrhea or constipation.Over-the-counter antacidsAntacids help to treat heartburn (indigestion). They work by neutralizing the stomach acid that causes heartburn. You can buy many antacids without ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Other over-the-counter and prescription medicines can treat GERD. They work more slowly than antacids, but give you longer relief. Your pharmacist, provider, or nurse can tell you how to take these medicines.Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) decrease the amount of acid produced in your stomach. H2 blockers also lower the amount of acid released in the stomach.Anti-reflux surgery may be an option for people whose symptoms do not go away with lifestyle changes and medicines. Heartburn and other symptoms should improve after surgery. But you may still need to take medicines for your heartburn.There are also new therapies for reflux that can be performed through an endoscope (a flexible tube passed through the mouth into the stomach). Outlook (Prognosis) Most people respond to lifestyle changes and medicines. However, many people need to continue taking medicines to control their symptoms. Possible Complications Complications may include:Worsening of asthma AsthmaAsthma is a chronic disease that causes the airways of the lungs to swell and narrow. It leads to breathing difficulty such as wheezing, shortness o...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article A change in the lining of the esophagus that can increase the risk of cancer (Barrett esophagus) Barrett esophagusBarrett esophagus (BE) is a disorder in which the lining of the esophagus is damaged by stomach acid leading to changes in the cells of the lining. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bronchospasm (irritation and spasm of the airways due to acid) Long-term (chronic) cough or hoarseness Dental problems Ulcer in the esophagus UlcerAn ulcer is a crater-like sore on the skin or mucous membrane. Ulcers form when the top layers of skin or tissue have been removed. They can occur ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Stricture (a narrowing of the esophagus due to scarring from chronic irritation) When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if symptoms do not improve with lifestyle changes or medicine.Also contact if you have:Bleeding Choking (coughing, shortness of breath) Feeling filled up quickly when eating Frequent vomiting Hoarseness Loss of appetite Trouble swallowing (dysphagia) or pain with swallowing (odynophagia) Weight loss A feeling like food or pills are sticking behind the breast bone Prevention Avoiding factors that cause heartburn may help prevent symptoms. Obesity is linked to GERD. Maintaining a healthy body weight may help prevent the condition.HeartburnHeartburn is a painful burning feeling just below or behind the breastbone. Most of the time, it comes from the esophagus. The pain often rises in ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesFalk GW, Katzka DA. Diseases of the esophagus. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 124.Katz PO, Dunbar KB, Schnoll-Sussman FH, Greer KB, Yadlapati R, Spechler SJ. ACG Clinical Guideline for the diagnosis and management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Am J Gastroenterol. 2022;117(1):27-56. PMID: 34807007 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34807007/.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Acid reflux (GER & GERD) in adults. www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/acid-reflux-ger-gerd-adults. Updated July 2020. Accessed February 10, 2024.Richter JE, Vaezi MF. Gastroesophageal reflux disease. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 46.