GERD may be a funny-sounding name, but millions of Americans
aren’t laughing. Gastroesophageal
reflux disease can cause the mother of all heartburns and an
array of other symptoms.

The term itself has been used only a decade or two. But the
disease has been around as long as heartburn. A National Institutes of Health
publication cited by the National
Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse puts the number
of sufferers at 3 percent to 7 percent of the U.S. population —
as many as 20 million people.

“GERD occurs when the acidic contents of the stomach flow back
into the esophagus and irritates or damages the tissue,” said
Connie Crawley, an Extension
Service nutrition
and health specialist with the University of Georgia College of Family and Consumer
Sciences.

GERD Basics

The esophagus is the tube that connects the throat to the
stomach. Usually, the stomach contents are kept from going back
up this tube by a sphincter, or a muscular ring that opens and
closes as we swallow food.

“When a person has GERD,” Crawley said, “this sphincter doesn’t
close tightly, allowing the stomach contents to go back up into
the esophagus.”

That backflow happens to a slight extent in virtually everybody.
But for many, the reflux is severe. Over time, the repeated flow
of acids damages the lining of the esophagus.

The most common symptoms are:

• Heartburn, an uncomfortable, rising, burning sensation behind
  the breastbone.
• Regurgitation of gastric acid or sour contents into the
  mouth.
• Difficult and/or painful swallowing.
• Chest pain.

Other symptoms can include sore throat, hoarseness,
earache, coughing, wheezing, asthma, bad breath, tooth decay, gum
inflammation and others.

Overeating can make the symptoms worse, Crawley said. So can
smoking, drinking alcohol or being pregnant or overweight, or
even wearing tight clothes.

Caffeine makes it worse, too, as do chocolate, fruits, juices,
tomatoes, peppermint and fatty foods.

“Fats stay in the stomach longer,” Crawley said. “Carbohydrates
are the first thing out of the stomach, then proteins. High-fat
meals are digested more slowly, and fat seems to make the
sphincter looser and more likely to open. So GERD symptoms may be
worse after high-fat meals.”

The Best Advice

The most important advice Crawley has for people with GERD
symptoms is to see a doctor, especially if symptoms are getting
worse or don’t improve with lifestyle changes.

“If the problem isn’t treated, the tissue of the esophagus can be
worn away, leading to an ulcer and even a narrowing of the tube
due to scar tissue,” she said. “This narrowing makes it hard for
the person to eat and requires surgery for repair. The reflux can
even go into the lungs, leading to pneumonia.”

For now, there is no cure for GERD.

“But it can be managed with medication and lifestyle changes,”
Crawley said.

Managing GERD

Among the helpful things suffers can do:

• Sleep with your head elevated 6 inches.
• Don’t eat for at least two hours before bed.
• Don’t smoke.
• Avoid food and drink that cause symptoms.
• Keep meals and snacks small.
• Lose weight if you’re overweight.

“Don’t keep suffering,” Crawley said. “If you have frequent
heartburn, see your doctor right away to be sure you don’t have
GERD.”