- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a consequence of the failure of the normal antireflux barrier to protect against frequent and abnormal amounts of gastroesophageal reflux (GER; i.e., gastric contents moving retrograde effortlessly from the stomach to the esophagus).
- Gastroesophageal Reflux itself is not a disease but rather a normal physiologic process. It occur multiple times each day, especially after large meals, without producing symptoms or mucosal damage.
- GERD is a spectrum of disease usually producing symptoms of heartburn and acid regurgitation.
- Most patients have no visible mucosal damage at the time of endoscopy (nonerosive GERD), whereas others have complications like esophagitis (can present with blood vomiting or chest pain), peptic strictures causing difficulty in swallowing (Dysphagia) or Barrets Esophagus (a premalignant condition).
- Symptoms may include chest pain or evidence of extraesophageal manifestations such as pulmonary, ear, nose, or throat symptoms.
- GERD is a multifactorial process and one of the most common diseases of mankind.
- Other primary esophageal motility disorders along with GERD are Achalasia, which presents with Difficulty in swallowing and Distal Esophageal Spasm (DES) which presents with chest pain while swallowing.
- Early Diagnosis and treatment can prevent complications.