Defining Acid Reflux Disease

Acid reflux disease is also known as GERD, which is gastro esophageal reflux disease. It is a serious condition where the acid contents of the stomach back up into the esophagus. This condition can lead to esophageal damage which could require surgery if left untreated. When treatment for acid reflux disease has been attended to, it is often necessary to continue treatment for the rest of your life. There are medications which can help to heal the damage however once discontinued, the damage can recur.

There are some conditions which are believed to hasten to acid reflux disease. People who has scleraderma usually have acid reflux disease as a result of the esophageal muscles being damaged. Scleraderma is a rare disease which causes stiffening of the muscles, tissue, and major organs.

Hiatal hernia is another acid reflux disease condition. A hiatal hernia happens when part of the stomach attaches to the esophagus. It causes the esophagus to push against the diaphragm. When this occurs, the esophagus is no longer in the right position and is more prone to acid reflux disease.

Esophageal contractions are one of the more frequent causes of acid reflux disease. When the esophagus constricts it pushes acids upwards, thus resulting in the burning sensation which is known as heartburn.

Acid Reflux Disease Complications

Since acid reflux disease is a serious condition, there are several complications that can come up as a result of it. Ulcers can form in both the esophagus and stomach as an ulcer is said to be a break in the lining of the esophagus which usually causes bleeding. In most cases, the bleeding can become serious enough to require blood transfusion. This is unusual, but is something that needs to be carefully monitored.

Strictures form after an ulcer has healed and it is similar in comparison to scar tissue that forms after surgery. If the stricture is large enough, it may cause food to stuck in the esophagus causing a choking feeling. In a few cases, the food must be removed surgically. This problem can often corrected by a surgical procedure which stretches the esophagus out to a more normal size. The procedure is easy and normally discharges out of the hospital after it.

If the reflux is worse enough to get into the lungs, it could lead to pneumonia. This occurs when reflux fluid is aspirated into the lungs. This condition usually is accompanied with severe coughing. With this type of pneumonia, the patient should seek treatment immediately since the acid can cause serious harm to the lining of the lungs. It could result in scarring and if left untreated, could lead to death.

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