Gastroesophageal refers to the stomach and esophagus (or "food pipe"). Reflux means to flow back or return. Therefore, gastroesophageal reflux is the return of the stomach's contents back up into the esophagus.

Reflux means that stomach acid and juices flow from the stomach back up into the tube that leads from the throat to the stomach (esophagus). This causes heartburn. When you have heartburn at least 2 times a week, it is called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Eating too much or bending forward after eating sometimes causes heartburn and a sour taste in the mouth. But having heartburn from time to time doesn't mean you have GERD.

In normal digestion, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) opens to allow food to pass into the stomach and closes to prevent food and acidic stomach juices from flowing back into the esophagus. Gastroesophageal reflux occurs when the LES is weak or relaxes inappropriately, allowing the stomach's contents to flow up into the esophagus. The severity of GERD depends on LES dysfunction, as well as the type and amount of fluid brought up from the stomach and the neutralizing effect of saliva.

It is a common health problem that physicians feel is caused by a hiatal hernia or when the lower esophageal sphincter or LES which is the opening to your stomach doesn't work well enough to hold food and fluids in the stomach and allows food and stomach juices and acids to wash back into the esophagus.

Morning hoarseness; chronic sore throat; frequent throat clearing; excessive phlegm; prolonged voice warn-up time; a sensation of a "lump in the throat"; night coughing. These do not enhance vocal quality. Salt water and lemon juice, are each irritating and drying to the tissues of the mouth and throat.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) develops when stomach acid and juices back up, or reflux, into the esophagus, the muscular tube that connects the throat to the stomach. This happens when the valve between the lower end of the esophagus and the stomach (the lower esophageal sphincter) does not close tightly enough. GERD most commonly occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes at the wrong time (that is, when you are not swallowing) and remains open too long.

Along with lifestyle changes, nonprescription medications may be needed to control occasional heartburn. Medications used for home treatment of GERD include antacids, or nonprescription medicines that reduce or block acid. These include H2 blockers (for example, Pepcid) or a proton pump inhibitor (for example, Prilosec OTC). For more information about prescription forms of these drugs, see the Medications section of this topic.

GERD describes a backflow of acid from the stomach into the swallowing tube or esophagus. This acid can irritate and sometimes damage the delicate lining on the inside of the esophagus. Almost everyone experiences GERD at some time. The usual symptom is heartburn, an uncomfortable burning sensation behind the breastbone, most commonly occurring after a meal.

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When the valve found at the lower end of the esophagus is dysfunctional, it allows the acidic content of the stomach to be regurgitated. Heartburn is a common problem in today's world. Acid reflux, gastric reflux, GERD, (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) are the many names heartburn has been given. Even though they all share many of the same traits, There are two trends of thought on how to stop heartburn.

In recent studies, patient's reflux problems have improved after LAP-BAND® System surgery. However, some patients may experience reflux during the early stages of their recovery. No, unlike most other forms of bariatric surgery, the LAP-BAND® System is not a malabsorptive procedure so your body's ability to metabolize vitamins and nutrients will not be affected.

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Reflux causes laryngitis and over an extended period of time may lead to cancer. The acid associated with reflux is very caustic to the vocal cords. It comes up the esophagus, burning the delicate tissue of the vocal cords. Chronic reflux can cause damage to the vocal cords. We adapt to this damage (bio-mechanically) with changes in the way we product voice and use our voices. Reflux can actually be an underlying medical problem associated with on going voice problems and vocal injuries.

Heartburn medications control acid production in the stomach so that symptoms related to acid reflux don't occur, but these medications don't fix the anatomic cause of GERD. For example, if the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) that normally stops stomach acid from flowing back into the esophagus is weak and stays open, acid from the stomach can push back into the esophagus, causing heartburn. The LES is strengthened after the minimally invasive surgery corrects the anatomical cause of GERD.