Gastro-esophageal Reflux Disease

Abstract

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GORD) is one of the most common diagnoses in ambulatory care settings and the most frequent digestive disease diagnosed. Physiologically, some gastro-esophageal acid reflux occurs during the postprandial state, is usually of short duration, and is associated with symptoms in only a minority of patients. In contrast, pathologic reflux often occurs nocturnally. Typical symptoms include heartburn, regurgitation, chest pain and epigastric pain. Extra-esophageal or atypical manifestations are cough, laryngitis, asthma and dental erosions. For most patients, symptoms can be satisfactorily controlled with lifestyle changes and/or medication. A minority with refractory symptoms can be helped by surgical procedures.