Wednesday 2 April 2008

GERD and Heartburn

Heartburn, regurgitation, and dysphagia are the most common symptoms of GERD. However, chest pain, chronic cough, laryngitis, hoarseness, and other otolaryngologic manifestation can be the primary manifestations of the disease. Heartburn, regurgitation, consumption of H2 blockers or Barrett's mucosa were significantly more frequent for adenocarcinomas.

A 5 year survival of 100% was seen for stage I tumors. Heart burn and acid reflux disease is different. Once you have the disease, you can not cure it.
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. 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.