Medical Blog

When we swallow food, it goes through the esophagus to the stomach. At the end of the esophagus is a sphincter or sphincter, which just opened when we swallow and then again hermetically closed. A good barrier between the esophagus and stomach is necessary to prevent the food in the wrong direction and to prevent stomach acid comes into contact with the esophagus, which is not corrosive acid that file.
Occasionally flows somewhat accidentally stomach contents back into the esophagus, at a full stomach, for example. Such acid reflux or heartburn is not so bad. It only becomes annoying when you frequently suffer from this acid flowing back. In that case we speak of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD).
By the repeated action of the stomach to the esophagus wall, the esophagus over time show an inflammatory irritation: it is called reflux esophagitis.
One in ten adults has at least once a week suffer from heartburn, one of three at least once a month.
Pregnant women, especially during the third trimester, are extra-susceptible to heartburn by the increased pressure of the uterus against the stomach.
People who suffer from asthma, also have an increased risk of heartburn.
Oesophageal sphincter in children has not yet completed, so frequent reflux. Only around the age of 12 months is entirely developed oesophageal sphincter.

Complaints

There are two typical symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) who almost always present:

Acid Burn: brash or bitter-tasting fluid in mouth and throat.
• occurs primarily after a heavy meal
• When bending over
• When you must lift a heavy weight
• when (the back) lie
• is more at night.

Dyspepsia or indigestion: an uncomfortable, full of feeling, sometimes with nausea and vomiting.

Other possible symptoms:
• nausea
• sharp pain behind the breastbone that sometimes radiates into the throat. In English this is called "heartburn" because it's a bit like as if the chest is on fire and can easily be confused with a heart attack. In case of reflux, the discomfort, however, especially after meals or when lying down.
• Swallowing problems
• Respiratory problems (chronic cough, wheezing, even asthma-like symptoms), especially at night
• Hoarseness, repeated sieges ...
• stuffy nose, earache, ringing ...