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Genetic Cause of GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a medical condition that causes the contents of an individual's stomach to leak back into the esophagus and cause heartburn. This condition can be a result of genetic causes and other risk factors.

  1. Symptoms

    • According to MedlinePlus, patients with GERD may experience burning pain under the breastbone and a feeling of food being trapped behind the breastbone.

    Genetic Risk

    • Between 30 and 40 percent of cases of GERD may have hereditary causes, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

    Inherited Problems

    • People with GERD may develop the disorder because of inherited structural and muscular problems in the esophagus or stomach.

    Barrett's Esophagus

    • Some individuals may have a genetic susceptibility to develop Barrett's esophagus, a precancerous erosion of the esophagus as a result of severe GERD.

    Hiatal Hernia

    • More than half of people over the age of 60 develop a hiatal hernia, a condition that causes the stomach to protrude upward through the diaphragm muscle. People with a hiatal hernia often develop GERD symptoms.

    Treatment

    • Doctors may prescribe proton pump inhibitor drugs such as omeprazole or H2 antagonist drugs such as cimetidine to reduce stomach acid and relieve symptoms of GERD.

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