What your gastroenterologists in Las Vegas want you to know about GERD
You’ve probably heard more than a few people complain about heartburn, because heartburn is a common problem. The truth is continual heartburn could be a sign of something more serious. It could be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD. So what is gastroesophageal reflux disease? Your gastroenterologists at Comprehensive Digestive Institute of Nevada in Las Vegas, NV want to help answer that question.
GERD is a condition caused by the sphincter muscle between your stomach and esophagus not working correctly. Normally, this sphincter muscle closes, keeping stomach acid from traveling up your esophagus. In cases of gastroesophageal reflux disease, the sphincter muscle only partially closes, allowing stomach acid to invade your esophagus.
There are some easily identifiable signs and symptoms of GERD, including:
- Frequent pain in your throat
- A frequent sour taste in your mouth
- Frequent bad breath
- Chronic wheezing and coughing
- Tooth sensitivity from eroding tooth enamel
- Chest pain, nausea and vomiting
There are many changes you can make that will reduce the signs and symptoms of GERD. You can try to:
- Eat smaller meals
- Avoid smoking and other tobacco products
- Avoid eating before lying down or bedtime
- Reduce or eliminate acidic or spicy foods
- Take over-the-counter antacids
If you think you have gastroesophageal reflux disease, it’s best to seek out the help of your gastroenterologist because GERD can progress, causing extensive damage to your esophagus. For example, GERD can cause:
- Esophageal inflammation, resulting in swelling of your esophagus and problems swallowing
- Esophageal ulcers, resulting in problems swallowing, nausea and pain in your chest
- Esophageal narrowing and scarring, leading to problems swallowing
Don’t ignore the signs and symptoms of GERD, especially when gastroesophageal reflux disease can be effectively treated by your gastroenterologists at Comprehensive Digestive Institute of Nevada. Don’t wait for GERD to get worse. Instead, call your gastroenterologists at Comprehensive Digestive Institute of Nevada in Las Vegas, NV today!