GERD is a disease and heartburn is its most common symptom. Heartburn is defined as a rising, burning sensation behind the breastbone caused by reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus. Nearly everyone has or will experience heartburn on occasion. Frequent heartburn that disrupts one's lifestyle suggests the diagnosis of GERD.

Doctors usually recommend trying lifestyle and dietary changes to treat both of these disorders. Avoiding certain foods and beverages such as citrus drinks, tomato products, peppermint, chocolate, fatty foods, coffee, alcohol, and spicy foods often helps. Also decreasing the amount you're eating or eating several hours before bedtime, dieting if you're overweight, getting more exercise, elevating the head of the bed 6-8 inches and quitting smoking also help many people.

Answer: No, definitely not. You may stop taking it after you recover. You may start back any time you want or take it sporadically as needed for acid reflux or body detox. Acid reflux (GERD), like obesity, is not a real disease. It is a result of improper eating and digestive functions. In other words, you may suffer from it again after you stop taking Acidgone® and start improper lifestyle practices again. However, Acidgone® may be taken on a daily basis if you choose to.

Stomach ulcers and duodenal ulcers are both peptic ulcers. A stomach ulcer (gastric ulcer) is a sore that occurs in the lining of the stomach. In general stomach ulcers can be related to infections with helicobacter pylori bacteria. The h. pylori bacteria weaken the protective mucus coating of the stomach and duodenal, where the mucus is produced.

Hiatus hernia refers to dislocation of the stomach through the "hiatus" of the diaphragm and into the chest. This is a common condition that increases in frequency with age. It may or may not be associated with GERD. When GERD is severe enough to be complicated by erosive esophagitis, seen as breaks in the lining of the esophagus, a hiatus hernia is usually present. However, most patients with a hiatus hernia do not have GERD.

Synonyms for heartburn are Acid Indigestion, Reflux, and Acid Reflux. In the U.S. nearly 60 million people suffer from heartburn once a month. 25 million Americans suffer from frequent heartburn. Heartburn is usually more common in older people and pregnant women. Heartburn is a medical condition with biological reasons. The lower esophagus sphincter (LES) does not work properly in some people. Therefore they are more prone to develop heartburn than others.

GERD stands for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Gastroesophageal reflux describes a backflow of acid from the stomach into the swallowing tube or esophagus. Almost everyone experiences gastroesophageal reflux at some time. The usual symptom is heartburn, an uncomfortable burning sensation behind the breastbone, most commonly occurring after a meal. In some individuals this reflux is frequent or severe enough to cause more significant problems, that is a disease.

Probably. Heartburn or acid reflux (GERD) is directly related to being overweight (there are other causes of GERD). Once you start losing those pounds you should notice that the heartburn starts to disappear. Patients who undergo the Lap-band procedure may notice a drastic improvement in the heartburn because the band acts like a valve preventing the acid reflux.

More than 60 million American adults experience GERD and heartburn at least once a month, and about 25 million adults suffer daily from heartburn. Twenty-five percent of pregnant women experience daily heartburn, and more than 50 percent have occasional distress. Recent studies show that GERD in infants and children is more common than previously recognized and may produce recurrent vomiting, coughing, and other respiratory problems, or failure to thrive.

Heartburn is a medical condition with biological reasons. Some people are more prone to develop heartburn than others, because they have a weak lower esophagus sphincter (LES). However, bad diet habits, overweight and smoking among other causes, can, over time, provoke heartburn that otherwise would have never occurred. In most cases occurrence of heartburn is food related.

Avoid “bad” food (alcohol, caffeine, citrus fruits and juices, tomato products, chocolate, fatty food and spices) When lying down elevate the level of your head by a few inches. Use 4 inch bricks to elevate the head of your bed. That can decrease the stomach pressure against the esophagus. Don’t use pillows: Elevating your head in bed with pillows has actually proven to increase the stomach pressure! In order not to aggravate heartburn avoid any kind of stress.

The four major symptoms of GERD are: q Heartburn (uncomfortable, rising, burning sensation behind the breastbone). q Regurgitation of gastric acid or sour contents into the mouth. q Difficult and/or painful swallowing. q Chest pain. Heartburn is the most common symptom of GERD. In some patients it may be accompanied by other GERD symptoms, such as regurgitation of gastric contents into the mouth, chest pain and difficulty swallowing.

What causes GERD? GERD is caused by reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus. In most patients this is due to a transient relaxation of the "gate" or sphincter that keeps the lower end of the esophagus closed when a person is not swallowing food or liquids. This transient relaxation happens a few times each day in people without GERD. Why it happens more frequently in GERD patients isn't known. The esophagus is not able to cope with acid as well as the stomach and is easily injured.

GERD afflicts people of every socioeconomic class, ethnic group and age. However, the incidence does seem to increase quite dramatically above the age of 40. Greater than 50 percent of those afflicted with GERD are between the ages of 45-64 (both male and female).

Only a minority of patients develop complications of GERD. These complications include breaks in the lining of the esophagus (esophageal erosions), esophageal ulcer, and narrowing of the esophagus (esophageal stricture). In some patients, the normal esophageal lining or epithelium may be replaced with abnormal (Barrett's) epithelium. This condition (Barrett's esophagus) has been linked to cancer of the esophagus and must be carefully watched.

Smoking doesn't cause GERD and there is little evidence that smoking significantly worsens GERD. Stopping smoking is a good idea anyway.

Unfortunately, GERD, in general, cannot be cured at present. In some cases, it may be a temporary condition associated with a specific aggravating factor such as pregnancy. In such cases, GERD will go away on its own when the pregnancy has ended. In most cases GERD is a chronic condition. However, it can be effectively managed with medications and lifestyle modifications in almost everybody. In severe cases, surgery is an option.