Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesConditions Worsening ItDiagnosisTreatmentWhen to Seek CareNext in GERD GuideSymptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Conditions Worsening It
Diagnosis
Treatment
When to Seek Care
Next in GERD Guide
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic and common condition where stomach acid flows back into the mouth through the esophagus. This can cause symptoms such asheartburnor acid indigestion, trouble swallowing, and the feeling of food being trapped or stuck in the esophagus. Certain risk factors and conditions can worsen GERD. Fortunately, GERD is manageable and treatable.
This article details what you need to know about symptoms of GERD, what causes GERD, which specific conditions can worsen GERD, how to go about getting a diagnosis for GERD, and what treatments for GERD are available. You’ll also learn when GERD causes complications, and when to see a healthcare provider for GERD.
GERD affects some 20% of adults in the United States.
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Symptoms of GERD
Main symptoms of GERD include persistent acid reflux or acid regurgitation andheartburn. However, some people can experience GERD without heartburn.Occasional heartburn and acid reflux are normal, but when symptoms are persistent or more frequent, they may be signs of chronic acid reflux (GERD).
Several other symptoms are associated with GERD, including:
Chest pain, a choking feeling, and chest or throat tightness are associated with GERD but can also be signs of more serious health complications and medical emergencies. When in doubt, always consult with a healthcare provider.
Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Symptoms for Infants and Children
In infants and children, symptoms of GERD include spitting up or regurgitating food. Other symptoms can include:
GERD is more common in premature infants and infants with certain health conditions.
GERD and LPR: Similar, But Different Reflux Conditions
What Causes GERD?
There are many reasons why your esophageal sphincter can weaken, including having risk factors for GERD and being exposed to dietary acid reflux triggers.
Risk Factors for GERD
Risk factors make someone more likely to develop a certain health condition like GERD. In some cases these factors can be reduced with diet or lifestyle changes.
Factors that can increase your likelihood of experiencing GERD are:
What Are the Easiest Foods to Digest? What to Eat and Avoid
Dietary Acid Reflux Triggers
Common dietary acid reflux triggers include:
Additionally, some people find tomato-based sauces, citrus fruits or fruit juices andcarbonatedbeverages can also trigger GERD symptoms.
10 Things to Stop Doing If You Have GERD
Conditions That May Worsen GERD
Several conditions are associated with worsening GERD symptoms. These include conditions affecting how you digest food and how you breathe.
Conditions that may make GERD worse include:
The link between anxiety and GERD is still being examined, but research does suggest there’s a relationship between the two conditions. One study from 2018, in fact, found significantly higher anxiety levels in people living with GERD.
What Is GERD?
How to Diagnose GERD
If you suspect you have GERD, consult with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. They will review your symptoms and medical history. They will be able to determine whether or not your acid reflux and heartburn is within the average range or cause for further investigation.
If GERD symptoms are present, your healthcare provider may suggest starting treatment for GERD without further testing. However, your healthcare provider may also suggest testing to rule out other health conditions or complications contributing to GERD symptoms.
Tests may include:
Treatment for GERD
Treatment for GERDcan involve medication and in some cases surgery. Oftentimes diet and lifestyle changes for GERD will be suggested first.
Medication
Medications for GERD can be found in over-the-counter (OTC) options or prescription options. If your symptoms do not resolve with OTC options, consult with your healthcare provider.
Some common medications for GERD include:
Surgery
Surgery or other medical procedures may also be necessary in some cases. Possible surgical options for GERD include:
9 Remedies for Fast Indigestion Relief
Diet and Lifestyle Changes for GERD
The following are diet and lifestyle changes for GERD that you can try:
Why Do I Have Heartburn?
Long-Term Complications
On its own, GERD isn’t typically cause for concern. However, untreated GERD over time can lead to additional health complications. Long-term complications associated with GERD include:
Is There a Cure for GERD?
13 Home Remedies for Acid Reflux Relief
When to Seek Care for GERD
If you have GERD, you should consult with your healthcare provider about next steps regarding the most appropriate lifestyle changes and treatment options. If your symptoms get worse, return to your healthcare provider.
If you experience severe symptoms such as forceful or unstoppable vomiting, vomiting bile, blood, or what looks like coffee grounds, or problems swallowing or breathing, seek medical attention right away.
Dyspepsia
Summary
GERD refers to chronic acid reflux. Symptoms include persistent heartburn, chest pains, and voice hoarseness. Causes are diverse and may include birth differences, diet and lifestyle, side effects from medications, and health conditions contributing to GERD including anxiety, obesity, or pregnancy.
Diagnosis involves getting a medical history and, possibly, conducting more tests. GERD is manageable. Treatments involve medications, diet and lifestyle changes, and in some cases surgery. When in doubt, seek support from your healthcare provider.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition and facts for GERD.Cleveland Clinic.GERD (chronic acid reflux).University of Utah Health.When is heartburn considered gastrophageal reflux disease?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of GERD in infants.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of GER and GERD.Johns Hopkins Medicine.GERD diet: Foods that help with acid reflux (heartburn).Choi JM, Yang JI, Kang SJ, Han YM, Lee J, Lee C, Chung SJ, Yoon DH, Park B, Kim YS.Association between anxiety and depression and gastroesophageal reflux disease: Results from a large cross-sectional study.J Neurogastroenterol Motil.2018 Oct 1;24:593-602. doi:10.5056/jnm18069Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) treatment.Moore M, Afaneh C, Benhuri D, Antonacci C, Abelson J, Zarnegar R.Gastroesophageal reflux disease: A review of surgical decision making.World J Gastrointest Surg. 2016;8(1):77-83. doi:10.4240/wjgs.v8.i1.77Rabach L, Saad AR, Velanovich V.How to choose among fundoplication, magnetic sphincter augmentation or transoral incisionless fundoplication [published online ahead of print, 2019 Apr 24].Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2019. doi:10.1097/MOG.0000000000000550Sowa P, Samarasena JB.Nonablative radiofrequency treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (STRETTA).Gastrointest Endosc Clin N Am. 2020;30(2):253-265. doi:10.1016/j.giec.2019.12.006Ida T, Inamori M, Inoh Y, et al.Clinical characteristics of severe erosive esophagitis among patients with erosive esophagitis: A case-control study.Intern Med. 2017;56(11):1293–1300. doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.56.8058Modiano N, Gerson LB.Barrett’s esophagus: Incidence, etiology, pathophysiology, prevention and treatment.Ther Clin Risk Manag.Napier KJ, Scheerer M, Misra S.Esophageal cancer: A Review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, staging workup and treatment modalities.World J Gastrointest Oncol. 2014;6(5):112–120. doi:10.4251/wjgo.v6.i5.112Gaude GS.Pulmonary manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease.Ann Thorac Med. 2009;4(3):115–123. doi:10.4103/1817-1737.53347
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition and facts for GERD.Cleveland Clinic.GERD (chronic acid reflux).University of Utah Health.When is heartburn considered gastrophageal reflux disease?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of GERD in infants.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of GER and GERD.Johns Hopkins Medicine.GERD diet: Foods that help with acid reflux (heartburn).Choi JM, Yang JI, Kang SJ, Han YM, Lee J, Lee C, Chung SJ, Yoon DH, Park B, Kim YS.Association between anxiety and depression and gastroesophageal reflux disease: Results from a large cross-sectional study.J Neurogastroenterol Motil.2018 Oct 1;24:593-602. doi:10.5056/jnm18069Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) treatment.Moore M, Afaneh C, Benhuri D, Antonacci C, Abelson J, Zarnegar R.Gastroesophageal reflux disease: A review of surgical decision making.World J Gastrointest Surg. 2016;8(1):77-83. doi:10.4240/wjgs.v8.i1.77Rabach L, Saad AR, Velanovich V.How to choose among fundoplication, magnetic sphincter augmentation or transoral incisionless fundoplication [published online ahead of print, 2019 Apr 24].Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2019. doi:10.1097/MOG.0000000000000550Sowa P, Samarasena JB.Nonablative radiofrequency treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (STRETTA).Gastrointest Endosc Clin N Am. 2020;30(2):253-265. doi:10.1016/j.giec.2019.12.006Ida T, Inamori M, Inoh Y, et al.Clinical characteristics of severe erosive esophagitis among patients with erosive esophagitis: A case-control study.Intern Med. 2017;56(11):1293–1300. doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.56.8058Modiano N, Gerson LB.Barrett’s esophagus: Incidence, etiology, pathophysiology, prevention and treatment.Ther Clin Risk Manag.Napier KJ, Scheerer M, Misra S.Esophageal cancer: A Review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, staging workup and treatment modalities.World J Gastrointest Oncol. 2014;6(5):112–120. doi:10.4251/wjgo.v6.i5.112Gaude GS.Pulmonary manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease.Ann Thorac Med. 2009;4(3):115–123. doi:10.4103/1817-1737.53347
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition and facts for GERD.Cleveland Clinic.GERD (chronic acid reflux).University of Utah Health.When is heartburn considered gastrophageal reflux disease?Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of GERD in infants.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of GER and GERD.Johns Hopkins Medicine.GERD diet: Foods that help with acid reflux (heartburn).Choi JM, Yang JI, Kang SJ, Han YM, Lee J, Lee C, Chung SJ, Yoon DH, Park B, Kim YS.Association between anxiety and depression and gastroesophageal reflux disease: Results from a large cross-sectional study.J Neurogastroenterol Motil.2018 Oct 1;24:593-602. doi:10.5056/jnm18069Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) treatment.Moore M, Afaneh C, Benhuri D, Antonacci C, Abelson J, Zarnegar R.Gastroesophageal reflux disease: A review of surgical decision making.World J Gastrointest Surg. 2016;8(1):77-83. doi:10.4240/wjgs.v8.i1.77Rabach L, Saad AR, Velanovich V.How to choose among fundoplication, magnetic sphincter augmentation or transoral incisionless fundoplication [published online ahead of print, 2019 Apr 24].Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2019. doi:10.1097/MOG.0000000000000550Sowa P, Samarasena JB.Nonablative radiofrequency treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (STRETTA).Gastrointest Endosc Clin N Am. 2020;30(2):253-265. doi:10.1016/j.giec.2019.12.006Ida T, Inamori M, Inoh Y, et al.Clinical characteristics of severe erosive esophagitis among patients with erosive esophagitis: A case-control study.Intern Med. 2017;56(11):1293–1300. doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.56.8058Modiano N, Gerson LB.Barrett’s esophagus: Incidence, etiology, pathophysiology, prevention and treatment.Ther Clin Risk Manag.Napier KJ, Scheerer M, Misra S.Esophageal cancer: A Review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, staging workup and treatment modalities.World J Gastrointest Oncol. 2014;6(5):112–120. doi:10.4251/wjgo.v6.i5.112Gaude GS.Pulmonary manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease.Ann Thorac Med. 2009;4(3):115–123. doi:10.4103/1817-1737.53347
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition and facts for GERD.
Cleveland Clinic.GERD (chronic acid reflux).
University of Utah Health.When is heartburn considered gastrophageal reflux disease?
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of GERD in infants.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms and causes of GER and GERD.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.GERD diet: Foods that help with acid reflux (heartburn).
Choi JM, Yang JI, Kang SJ, Han YM, Lee J, Lee C, Chung SJ, Yoon DH, Park B, Kim YS.Association between anxiety and depression and gastroesophageal reflux disease: Results from a large cross-sectional study.J Neurogastroenterol Motil.2018 Oct 1;24:593-602. doi:10.5056/jnm18069
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) treatment.
Moore M, Afaneh C, Benhuri D, Antonacci C, Abelson J, Zarnegar R.Gastroesophageal reflux disease: A review of surgical decision making.World J Gastrointest Surg. 2016;8(1):77-83. doi:10.4240/wjgs.v8.i1.77
Rabach L, Saad AR, Velanovich V.How to choose among fundoplication, magnetic sphincter augmentation or transoral incisionless fundoplication [published online ahead of print, 2019 Apr 24].Curr Opin Gastroenterol. 2019. doi:10.1097/MOG.0000000000000550
Sowa P, Samarasena JB.Nonablative radiofrequency treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (STRETTA).Gastrointest Endosc Clin N Am. 2020;30(2):253-265. doi:10.1016/j.giec.2019.12.006
Ida T, Inamori M, Inoh Y, et al.Clinical characteristics of severe erosive esophagitis among patients with erosive esophagitis: A case-control study.Intern Med. 2017;56(11):1293–1300. doi:10.2169/internalmedicine.56.8058
Modiano N, Gerson LB.Barrett’s esophagus: Incidence, etiology, pathophysiology, prevention and treatment.Ther Clin Risk Manag.
Napier KJ, Scheerer M, Misra S.Esophageal cancer: A Review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, staging workup and treatment modalities.World J Gastrointest Oncol. 2014;6(5):112–120. doi:10.4251/wjgo.v6.i5.112
Gaude GS.Pulmonary manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease.Ann Thorac Med. 2009;4(3):115–123. doi:10.4103/1817-1737.53347
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