Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a condition that causes the contents of the stomach to flow back up into the esophagus. Symptoms include heartburn and abdominal pain, but GERD can also lead to a sore throat. One study found that GERD symptoms are responsible for 25 percent of all cases of sore throats in the United States.
GERD happens when the lower end of the esophagus does not close properly. This allows food or stomach acid to move up into the esophagus, causing heartburn. GERD is common because many people have a hiatal hernia (or hiatus hernia), where part of the stomach slides through an abnormal opening in the diaphragm muscle and into the chest cavity. As a result, the diaphragm muscle relaxes after eating, allowing food to pass through the esophagus more easily. In someone with GERD, this relaxation is abnormally prolonged and allows stomach contents to flow into the esophagus.
GERD is often treated by lifestyle changes such as losing weight and reducing stress or alcohol consumption. It can also be treated by antacids or other medications which reduce stomach acid levels.
