When you have GERD (chronic acid reflux), your esophagus allows stomach acid to flow continuously back into your mouth. Heartburn, acid reflux, difficulty swallowing, a sense of food stuck in your throat, and other issues could occur. Jan Stanley, RN, and the staff at Ageless Regenerative Medicine, under the direction of Nicholas Sieveking, MD, provide a variety of innovative treatments to address your problem. Now, make an appointment by calling the Nashville, Tennessee, office or online.
GERD is a digestive disorder that affects the muscle between your esophagus and your stomach. This area is the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). If you have been diagnosed with GERD, you may get heartburn or acid indigestion. In most cases, you can ease your GERD symptoms through diet and lifestyle changes. But some people may need medication or surgery.1
The term “gastroesophageal” refers to the stomach and esophagus. Reflux means to flow back or return. Your esophagus is the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) happens when a muscle at the end of your esophagus does not close properly. This allows stomach contents to leak back, or reflux, into the esophagus and irritate it.2
More than 60 million American adults have heartburn at least once a month, and more than 15 million adults have heartburn every day, including many pregnant women. Recent studies show that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in infants and children is more common than doctors thought. It can cause vomiting that happens over and over again. It can also cause coughing and other breathing problems.
You may feel a burning in the chest or throat. Sometimes, you can taste stomach fluid in the back of the mouth. If you have these symptoms more than twice a week, you may have GERD. You can also have GERD without having heartburn.
Anyone, including infants and children, can have GERD. If not treated, it can lead to more serious health problems.
In some cases, you might need medicines or surgery. However, many people can improve their symptoms by:
You should contact your healthcare provider right away if you experience symptoms that continue for more than two weeks. You should also talk with your doctor if you have heartburn that persists after taking over-the-counter medications or heartburn episodes that change in frequency or intensity. At Ageless Regenerative Medical, our clinical care team offers patients a thorough evaluation and customized treatment plan based on diagnostic results. For questions or to schedule an appointment, please call 615-678-7784.
1WebMD.com
2NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
