Overview
GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) is a digestive disorder that occurs when acidic stomach juices, or food, and fluids back up from the stomach into the esophagus. This backwash can irritate lining of your esophagus. The esophagus is a tube that transports food from the mouth to the stomach. Acids in the esophagus cause heartburn and other symptoms, as well as possible tissue damage. GERD affects people at all ages- from infants to older adults. GERD is a mild acid reflux that occurs at least twice a week, or moderate to severe acid reflux that occurs at least once a week. GERD is characterized by symptoms and/or tissue damage that results from repeated or prolonged exposure of the lining of the esophagus to contents from the stomach. If tissue damage is present, the individual is said to have esophagitis or erosive GERD. The presence of symptoms with no evident tissue damage is referred to as non-erosive GERD.