If you have acid reflux, or if you have trouble with indigestion, then you may want to know more about GERD. It seems like a funny name, but this is a serious condition. GERD actually stands for the word “gastroesophageal reflux disease”. This is also called acid reflux.

You have probably heard of GERD or acid reflux. This is a condition that can cause a lot problems if left untreated, or if you do not change your eating habits to make yourself better. This condition takes place when the liquid in your stomach, or the acid in your stomach used for digestion, backs up in the esophagus. This is as unpleasant as it sounds. When this back up occurs, it is not only uncomfortable, but is painful and can cause more serious medical conditions.

Why is GERD a problem? Occasional problems with acid reflux really won’t cause you too much trouble. In fact, almost everyone has GERD, or acid reflux at one time or another. The problem happens when you have chronic acid reflux and it gets left untreated. Several things can happen. You can develop further issues with your digestive system. When the acid, which contains what is called pepsin, continually, enters your esophagus, it can actually burn the lining and can cause ulcers and bleeding.

Chronic GERD can certainly become a serious condition. The bad news is that if you are not a person that gets it sometimes and find that you get it all the time, then there is no real cure. You are likely to get it all the time. In fact, there is no cure for GERD. You can only try to prevent it or treat the symptoms. The symptoms of GERD or acid reflux vary, but most certainly include abdominal pain around the belly button. This pain can radiate to the chest and into the throat and neck. The burning sensation you feel is almost always present. In addition, you may feel sick to your stomach and may burp excessively or vomit. Those are the symptoms that you want to treat.

So, what can you do when you have GERD? The first thing you will want to do is to take some kind of antacid such as Tums or Mylanta. This will treat the symptoms. It will help ease the acids and can actually make you feel better right away. After that happens, you can start concentrating on how to prevent the acid reflux. You will want to take a look at what you eat and when you eat. You know that unhealthy foods are bad for you, but it can cause acid reflux. All that fatty fast food and greasy foods that tastes so good, will catch up with you. IN addition, if you eat late at night and then go to bed, then gravity is working against you. The stomach acids will rise and it will cause acid reflux.

When you have acid reflux, or GERD, it is both treatable and in many case preventable. 

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