Most of us experience heartburn or acid reflux occasionally. Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid flows from the stomach into the esophagus. When acid reflux occurs several times per week on a regular basis, it may progress to gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. Frequent acid reflux can lead to damage and inflammation in the esophagus.
The most common symptom of GERD is frequent heartburn occurring two or more times a week. Other symptoms may include difficulty swallowing, regurgitation of food or a sour taste in your mouth, chronic coughing, and chest pain.
The treatment of GERD includes lifestyle changes:
Your health care provider may recommend lifestyle changes and nonprescription medications such as antacids, or medications that reduce acid or block acid production. If you do not experience relief within a few weeks, then additional testing and prescriptions medications may be recommended.
An upper endoscopy may be recommended to confirm the diagnosis of GERD, and determine if there is inflammation in your esophagus. Upper endoscopy is performed while you are sedated, and involves using a miniature camera on the end of a flexible tube to view the inside of the esophagus and stomach.