Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or acid reflux is a medical condition leading to your stomach acid flowing back to the esophagus. This condition irritates the tube’s lining, resulting in mild, moderate, and severe symptoms. While you can manage GERD in most cases through treatment or by making lifestyle changes, chronic GERD may require surgery. A doctor can determine the right course of action. This article discusses in detail the condition and its treatment.

Symptoms
GERD can have varied symptoms, causing significant irritation to your stomach, chest, and mouth. Below is a list of the most common symptoms of GERD.

1. Heartburn
GERD can often cause a burning sensation in the heart and sometime in the neck. This symptom is called heartburn, which leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Lying down or having a large meal often increases heartburn in GERD patients.

2. Chronic cough
Recurring GERD can lead to chronic coughing if left untreated. While chronic cough can have other causes, a persisting condition can be a sign of GERD. If the irritations continue, you must contact your doctor for a checkup.

3. Swallowing difficulty
GERD causes continuous burping as the condition leads to acid and undigested food flowing back to the esophagus. When this happens, swallowing can become difficult. Heartburn can often cause swallowing difficulties too.

4. Bad breath
Bad breath can be a symptom of GERD due to stomach acids and food residues constantly rising to the esophagus. Along with bad breath, you can also feel a bitter taste in the mouth.

Causes
There are several causes and risk factors associated with GERD. Any one or more of the below factors can lead to the condition.

1. Imbalanced BMI
It is one of the most common causes of GERD. If you are obese, the additional weight puts constant pressure on your abdomen. This can lead to developing heartburn and other symptoms related to the condition. Obesity can also make the disease severe.

2. Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) issues
LES plays a vital role in your digestive system. It opens the lower part of the esophagus while you eat and closes it afterward. If your LES becomes weak or malfunctions, it results in acid reflux due to stomach acid constantly flowing up.

3. Asthma
Asthma is one of the common causes of GERD. More than 75% of asthma patients have the possibility of developing GERD. It occurs due to excessive coughing among asthma patients, creating constant pressure on your chest, leading to reflux.

Diagnosis
The test for GERD starts with a physical examination, followed by a comparison of the test results with your symptoms. Then, the doctor might suggest a few other medical tests to determine if there is any complication. These examinations include the following:

1. X-ray
A medical professional will hand you a white drink that can fill and coat the digestive tract’s inside lining. Then an X-ray will be performed to see the outlines of the esophagus, upper intestine, and stomach.

2. Esophageal manometry
This test can measure the rhythm of the muscle contraction in the esophagus when you are eating or swallowing. This reveals the muscle’s coordination and strength, which helps determine if you have GERD.

3. Upper endoscopy
The test involves the insertion of a thin and flexible tube into your stomach and esophagus down the throat. The tube includes a light and a camera, which allow the examiners to see the digestive system. If there is any inflammation inside your esophagus due to GERD, the test will reveal it.

Treatment
The best way to manage GERD is to make lifestyle changes based on your doctor’s advice. Some of the simplest things you can do at home to manage the symptoms are as follows:

• Manage the quantity of food consumption so there is no stress on your stomach
• Avoid food that causes the symptoms to flare up
• Wait at least three hours before going to bed after a meal
• Stop smoking
• Avoid tight clothing that puts pressure on the stomach

If your GERD symptoms are not manageable at home, the doctor might suggest surgeries to prevent reflux. One of the standard procedures to stop GERD is fundoplication. It involves entirely or partially wrapping the top portion of the stomach around your lower esophageal sphincter. This procedure can successfully prevent reflux occurrences. Additionally, fundoplication is a minimally invasive procedure with significantly low risk.

Managing acid reflux might sound simple, but untreated GERD can result in severe complications. Hence, it is essential to contact your doctor for expert suggestions when you notice symptoms.