WHAT IS GERD?
- 2 out of 5 adults suffer from heartburn at least once a month
- As many as 10% of GERD patients develop Barrett’s esophagus (pre-cancerous condition of the esophagus)
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Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or chronic heartburn, is a physical condition resulting from the inability of the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) to prevent reflux of acid or bile from the stomach into the esophagus.
GERD is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in the world; in the United States alone, an estimated 20 million people suffer from daily reflux episodes.
Some frequent symptoms of GERD include heartburn, chest pain, regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, chronic cough, sore throat, laryngitis, difficulty sleeping and asthma.
Normally the LES serves as a protective barrier between the esophagus and stomach. However, when the LES loses its muscular tone, it allows abnormal reflux of stomach acids and bile to flow back up, or reflux, into the esophagus.
