What is GERD?
Your stomach is filled with acid. Its purpose is to help digest the food you
eat. Believe it or not, this acid is the same acidity as battery acid. Your
stomach is built to handle the acid it produces. However, your esophagus isn’t. So when acid backs up into your
esophagus, it can cause the burning sensation known as heartburn.
Almost everyone has occasional heartburn. But if these symptoms occur two or more days a week for at least three months, you may have GERD, or acid reflux disease. Acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (the valve separating the esophagus and stomach) does not close properly, allowing acid to back up into the esophagus.
GERD is a chronic condition and may lead to more serious medical conditions, but is treatable. In this section, you’ll learn about the causes and common symptoms of GERD, a disease that is more common than you might think.