Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD or acid reflux, is a chronic condition in which stomach contents rise and enter the esophagus. This occurs due to problems with closure of the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES, which is the junction between the stomach and esophagus. The most common symptoms are a burning sensation in the chest called heartburn, regurgitation, and an acidic taste in the back of the mouth. Heartburn typically occurs after eating and may worsen at night. Less commonly, people may experience dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing. Dysphagia can manifest as pain when swallowing, a sore throat, choking, coughing, gurgling or regurgitating food or stomach acids, feeling that food is stuck behind your breastbone, a burning sensation behind your breastbone, and hoarseness. There may also be nausea, frequent burping, chest pain, the sensation of a lump in your throat, wearing away of teeth, and bad breath. GERD can cause a recurrent cough, breathing difficulties, chest congestion, and lung inflammation leading to asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
Complications that can occur from it include esophagitis, or inflammation of esophagus, esophageal stricture, in which scar tissue develops and narrows the esophagus, and Barrett’s esophagus, in which the lining of the esophagus comes to resemble tissue that lines the intestines – which can lead to cancer.
Risk factors for GERD include obesity, pregnancy, smoking, and certain medications. Hence, treatments include lifestyle changes such as losing weight and quitting smoking. Other lifestyle changes include eating several small meals a day instead of 3 big meals, avoiding food resulting in symptoms, not lying down 2-3 hours after eating, and raising the head of the bed. Foods that can exacerbate GERD symptoms include spicy, fatty, or fried foods, garlic, onions, citrus fruits, tomatoes, caffeine, and fizzy drinks.
There are also medications that can be used to treat GERD symptoms. These include proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, and histamine-2 (or H2) receptor blockers, both of which reduce stomach acid production. There are also prokinetics, which cause the stomach to empty more quickly, antacids, which neutralize acid in the stomach, and medications that strengthen the LES.
Some people still have symptoms interfering with their quality of life despite lifestyle changes and taking medication. Still others wish to avoid taking medication long-term. In such cases, surgeries can be performed to reinforce and strengthen the LES. The most common of these is Nissan fundoplication. In this surgery, the stomach’s fundus is wrapped around the LES. During a total fundoplication, the fundus is wrapped 360 degrees around. In a partial fundoplication, the fundus is not wrapped completely around the stomach. Some people with GERD may have a hiatal hernia, which is when part of the stomach slips through the diaphragm into the middle compartment of the chest. If a hiatal hernia is present, that is also fixed during the surgery.
Asthma and GERD frequently occur together. The reason is not certain, but it is believed that acid flowing from the stomach injures the throat lining, airways, and lungs. Another potential cause could be that when acid enters the esophagus, a nerve reflex kicks in and constricts airways to keep acid out. This can result in shortness of breath.

[pidhsome]

This is the shortest but most informative video regarding GERD i have ever seen, amazing job.

[sharairosas]

GERD IS THE WORST THING EVER !😭 I JUST WANT TO BE NORMAL AGAIN! IM VERY SCARED I WAS DOJNG FINE BUT I GUESS I BROKE DIET AND WENT BACK INTO THIS BAD SYMPTOMS LIKE TROUBLE SWALLOWING & BREATHING PROBLEMS THAT TRIGGER PANICK ATTACKS ! 😫😭

[kinas]

I've got chronic GERD, running 19 years now since birth. 2-300 acid burps/reflux per day, constant sore throat etc. I experience almost all of these symptoms and it is a living hell. Good luck to my fellow acid spitters.

[leegaihn]

Avoiding stress. Idk bro but stress does not want to leave me. I've tried my best

[debbiec]

I also know 2 people who died from Esophageal Cancer, just days apart.
It's very scary and my heart goes out for Everyone who has any of this .
There are good videos on Youtube and explains about this . Just like the video on here .
YOu have to get that LES TAKEN CARE OF ASAP.

[freeradical_v]

Crazy.
I’ve been suffering of this all my life and have most of the symptoms.
Thank you very much for this eye-opening video.

[dat_hobo_mf]

You dont know how helpful this video is. Started having symptoms abount 5-6 months ago and thought my smoking habit had finally caught up to me. stopped the smoking and didnt get any better. trying to make lifestyle changes now as ive been having trouble breathing the past week or so. Thank you very much for your informative explanation

[kabir]

The best way to cure acid reflux is improving your diet. That's what works best. Identify your triggers and avoid that at all costs. For me it's cake, excessive chocolates, deep fried stuff and coffee. Other than these....i can eat whatever I want how much ever I want. Also get sleep and please stop stressing.

[NeuralAcademy]

It's been a long time since I posted a video... that's because a few weeks ago I developed severe symptoms of GERD. I went to the ER 4 times because of it. I was having a lot of difficulty breathing and chest pain after eating, drinking, and lying down. At first, I thought I had COVID, but got 2 negative test results. Once the doctors figured out what was going on, I got medication and needed to make lifestyle changes. I felt much better right away! I'm still continue to recover, but in the midst of everything, I did an enormous amount of research into GERD, so I thought why not make a video about it? - Viola

[Lesleyallisonwalker]

If you have GERD also watch out for some medications that tend to be caustic. I went on an antibiotic that caused a chemical esophageal burn and ended me up in the hospital for a week. Certain meds require being upright for a few hours to avoid burns in peeps with these type of issues.

[IResonateWithU]

Everyone knows someone with this issue, its super common and awfully uncomfortable. I have 3 family members with it.
They have yet to change their diet 😕
Excellent explanation here.
Thank you 👍🧡

[anandkulkarni]

Just amazing. Great vedio in such short time. Exactly what a medical student needs right before exams

[andreasnylander]

I've had GERD for about 15years(I am 27y) and let's just say that some of the "not to eat nor drink" is sometimes up to you. Fizzy drinks, alcohol, spicy and fried/high fat are the worst (for me) and medication isn't good for long term so if you live in etc USA check it up, you guys have great surgery options others doesn't have :) The surgery option you provide in the video gives about 70-80% chance of getting well but also comes with bad sides aswell, thats why I haven't done it. My LES is always open 1.5cm and i have pH 2.2 in my Esofagus. If anyone recently got diagnosed with GERD im happy to provide what helps for me :)

[dpedits]

Hi I'm david 23.. I have acid reflux like 8 months the first thing change my life on sep 2021 i had a panic attack and my dad take me to hospital and they say nothing to worry just need to do some physical activity. Then the second attack was on November at midnight i thought i going to die i was on work and i call my dad again we went to hospital the doc suggest us to take echo. After the results came everything was fine in results... But till now I'm Having this issue.. I'm missing my old me.. Bcoz i lost my job.. I lost my happiness.. I'm the person who makes other's laugh.. But now i lost my smile though..I'm 23 and I'm depressed of thinking like what's going to happen next.. Every minute is a hell for me.. I can feel the situation of every people who are all having this GERD.. I hope we'll get through this and be fine.. God bless us.. Thank you.

PS : I don't drink and i don't smoke.. But still this thing got me.. Guys give me some suggestion what to do..

[marcoroberts]

Going through this right now. College stress seems to play a pretty big role since my symptoms seemed to be getting better over a week-long fall break but are coming back as school restarts.

[alphacompany]

I am experiencing severe bloating, stomach burn, chest burn, throat burn, acidic taste in my mouth, feeling that something is pressing my chest, occasional nausea and constipation. Does anyone else have these symptoms?

[ferrydinther]

Gerd -> esophagitis -> barrett's esophagus (intestinal metaplasia) -> barrett's esophagus with dysplasia -> esophageal adenocarcinoma (cancer).

[jn]

Heres my experience that helped me. I had really bad acid reflux and started developing spasms that were pretty bad, that pretty much happened most of the day. One of the following things fixed the problem. First I started eating papaya seeds, spoonful twice a day, with a glass of water with half a lemon squeezed in. Also was taking zinc pills. I did this for about a week, a few days later acid reflux is totally gone and zero spasms. The only other thing was I went to the chiropractor twice and got cracked. I had a problem in one of my ribs years ago which felt like a knot in my back overtime with my work. So there's a chance the spasm was due to my back as well. Hope this helps anyone give it a try.

[ScorpioBornIn]

I have a friend that has a son that has stomach gag that causes frequent coughing and at times, vomiting and bad abdominal pain. She told me he has had this condition all his life, current age is 23 but is obese weighing 250-270 Ibs.

[adorisip]

I suffered from this for a month, i used omeprazole and gaviscon and antacid during those time but only apple cider vinegar (with mother) with honey in a glass of luke warm water cured my acid reflux. Use 1/4 of mixture before eating the meal and the remaining 3/4 after eating the meal. After trying ACV, my appetite went back to normal.