Hello and thank you for your questions. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition where stomach acid flows back through your esophagus, the tube that connects your throat and your stomach. The strong acid have corrosive effects and the lining of your esophagus cannot withstand it thus causing it to become irritated.

Therefore, you may experience symptoms such as pain or burning sensation in the chest, especially after eating or lying down, difficulty swallowing, feeling of a lump in your throat, burping or regurgitation of food or sourish fluid. At night, you might even have chronic cough, sore throat or disrupted sleep.

GERD may affect anyone old or young though your risk does increase as you age. The more prominent risk factors for GERD include obesity, pregnancy, hiatal hernia, delayed stomach emptying, smoking, eating large meals, alcohol or coffee.

Symptoms may be managed with over-the-counter medications such as antacids, H2 receptor blockers or proton-pump inhibitors. Lifestyle changes to manage the risk factors are also necessary. You may be recommended to lose weight, eat smaller meals, avoid meals before lying down, stop consumption of alcohol and smoking and reduce caffeine intake. In severe cases such as when GERD is due to a hiatal hernia, there may be a need for surgery.

Long-term complications to prolonged and repeated stomach acid exposure include esophageal strictures, ulcers and Barrett’s esophagus, a precancerous condition that occurs due to the chronic inflammation of the esophagus. Therefore, GERD is associated with an increased risk for esophageal cancer. Due to this risk, your doctor may consider monitoring your condition with periodic endoscopies and biopsies to monitor for precancerous changes to your esophageal lining.

Do speak to your doctor for more information. Be disciplined and compliant to your treatment to manage your condition effectively.