Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

A Description

What is GERD?

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a common ailment in the United States that affects up to 7percent of the population. GERD is the medical term for the movement of fluid and food from the stomach into the esophagus-reflux.

This reflux produces a variety of symptoms including heartburn, acid regurgitation, chest pain, hoarseness and chronic cough.  The most common of these symptoms is heartburn, which, interestingly, has nothing to do with the heart. In the United States, 7 percent of people suffer from heartburn every day, 14 percent once per week and 35 to 44 percent once per month.