There are several things you need to know about GERD. GERD stands for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. GERD is a disease of the digestive system, which is why this is a good topic for the digestive lab I missed. Some of the symptoms of GERD are heartburn, dry cough, asthmatic symptoms, or difficulty swallowing; with heartburn being the most common symptom. GERD sufferers range in age from infants to the elderly. Anyone can suffer from GERD. One way to develop GERD is through food being digested too slowly because of nerves and muscles functioning abnormally. This causes pressure in the stomach to increase, in turn, causing acid reflux. There are also some types of medication that can cause GERD. Anything with ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen are often associated with causing peptic ulcers. These drugs can cause GERD or even increase the severity of symptoms in someone who is already suffering from it. The previous medications are the most commonly known, however, they are not the only medications to cause GERD symptoms. Antibiotics, sedatives, and dopamine are a few of the others. There are other medications that can cause GERD like symptoms, so you should always consult with a health professional to know what is safe for you.
Having GERD can cause you to change your lifestyle. One aspect is changing your eating habits. There are lots of foods that can cause the symptoms of GERD to worsen. Spicy foods can cause GERD to flare. Tomato based foods can also cause unwanted pain. There are other foods you should be cautious of when combating GERD. A few of them are oranges, lemons, and any type of chocolate. Food or beverages containing caffeine or alcohol are strongly discouraged.
There are some long term effects from having GERD, especially if is goes untreated for too long. Leaving GERD untreated can cause the lining of the esophagus to diminish. This can lead to esophagitis. According to NIDDK, esophagitis is inflammation of the...