gastroesophageal reflux disease

GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE One of the most common gastrointestinal diss affecting a significant number of people around the world is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD . It has been estimated that approximately 60 million people in the United States experience this disease , which is commonly known as acid reflux . Unfortunately , most people self-diagnose the symptoms associated with GERD and inappropriately treat themselves resulting in a more severe gastrointestinal condition . These include incurring damage to the esophagus , from the simple erosive condition to the more severe ulcers . The development of such severe conditions thus

br influences their need to seek medical attention , generally as outpatients . Estimates have shown that 50 of those individuals with GERD who have been left untreated result in experiencing reflux esophagitis . On the other hand , approximately 10 of these individuals develop erosive esophagitis

The two major symptoms of GERD are heartburn and gastric reflux of acid Other symptoms of GERD include chest pain as well as persistent hoarseness in the voice due to the constant reflux of gastric juices up to the esophageal area . It is also common for an individual with GERD to present symptoms of asthma (Asano and Suzuki , 2009 . Caution is also encouraged with regards to the diagnosis of GERD , as only half of the patients will show proof of the disease during endoscopic examination

GERD has been observed in almost all types of individuals , yet there are certain individuals with particular conditions that are more at risk to develop GERD . Among these are individuals who are...