subject: What Is Gerd And Why Do I Have It? [print this page] If you are one of the many people that suffer from heartburn, then your surgeon may have said that laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery can treat your condition. Heartburn is technically referred to as gastro esophageal reflux disease, or GERD. GERD
the esophagus and improve overall well-being in the patient.
So, what exactly is GERD disease? Many people say that they are having heartburn, but this is just one symptom of GERD and can also be used to describe a variety of different digestive problems. People that suffer from GERD have stomach acids reflux, or come back up from the stomach and enter the esophagus. GERD is described as being a harsh burning sensation in the throat and neck area. Other symptoms can include vomiting, difficulty swallowing and chronic coughing and wheezing. Patients that seek out GERD surgery have the main goal of finding heartburn
When a person ingests food, the food moves from the mouth and into the stomach through a tube called the esophagus. On the lower end of the esophagus there is a ring of muscle that is referred to as the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES. The LES is kind of like a one way valve. It allows for food to pass from the mouth to
the stomach and not the other way around. Once the food passes fully into the stomach the LES will close to prevent any stomach acids, which are high in acid content, from flowing up and back into the esophagus. People suffer from GERD when the LES is not functioning properly. An ill-working LES allows the stomach acid to flow back and burn the lower part of the esophagus. When this occurs, the esophagus gets irritated and becomes inflamed causing heartburn and eventually severe esophagus damage.
In some cases patients have a naturally weak LES at birth. However, for some others, spicy foods and foods that are high in fat, certain medications, smoking, vigorous exercise, tight clothing and alcohol consumption may lead to the LES relaxing and causing the unwanted reflux. In some cases a hiatal hernia will be present in patients that suffer from GERD. This itself may not necessarily be the cause for GERD symptoms.
If you are suffering from chronic heartburn and are seeking relief, ask your doctor if GERD surgery is right for you. If the problem is fixed at its early signs, then it is possible that you can dodge more severe damage and years of unwanted and
