Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Acid Reflux Disease Are you having frequent heartburn or frequent regurgitation? Maybe you should ask your Doctor about Acid Reflux disease( ARD). First off what is ARD? Acid Reflux, also known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, is a disease where the valve (LES) were your esophagus and stomach are connected, does not function properly. “ Normally the LES closes as soon as food passes through it. If the LES does not close all the way or it opens too often, acid produced by your stomach can move up into your esophagus”.
(Blahd) In this paper I will cover the causes, hereditary studies, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment involved with ARD. “ Everybody has little bit of Acid Reflux, however the severity of each person is where the disease becomes diverse between people”. (Thompson) The causes of ARD are vastly spread out, however they fall into two categories, Naturally occurring and man caused. Genotypes, Pregnancy, Hiatal Hernia, and abnormality of the esophagus these are all examples of naturally occurring causes. Smoking, overweight or obese, bad eating habits, other medications, these are the causes that come from people's choices. All of these can cause ARD however some can trigger a
“ It’s time to see your doctor if you are having Acid Reflux symptoms two or more times a week” (Blahd). There are quite a few different ways to see if you have ARD. “ One way to verify is to treat you for Acid reflux and to see if you respond”(Thompson). These treatments include lifestyle changes, Antiacid drugs, and proton pump inhibitors that also is a drug however this one is inhibited. In many cases doctors will have you do tests. Normal tests like the drawing of blood, or other samples may be used to diagnose ARD, but there are other tests that are less common that your doctor might have you do, such as, a barium swallow, esophageal manometry, pH monitoring, endoscopy, or a