Definition of Gastric Reflux

Gastric reflux is a condition where the acid contained in your stomach leaks upward into your esophagus. Approximately 20 percent of Americans experience the symptoms of gastric reflux at least weekly, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.

Causes

• Gastric reflux or gastroesophogeal reflux disease occurs when the muscles at the top of your stomach weaken and do not close fully, allowing stomach acid to escape. This acid irritates the tissue in your esophagus, resulting in the symptoms of gastric reflux.

Types of Symptoms

• Symptoms of gastric reflux include a burning sensation in your chest, chest pain, difficulty swallowing, dry cough, hoarseness, throat soreness, wet, sour tasting burps and a sensation as if you have a lump in your throat or something lodged there. The pain caused by gastric reflux is often referred to as heartburn and is sometimes accompanied by a sour taste in your mouth.

Risks

• A number of factors increase your likelihood for developing gastric reflux, including obesity, hiatal hernia, pregnancy, smoking, dry mouth, asthma, diabetes and connective tissue disorders like scleroderma, reports the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse. In rare cases, a disease called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome that causes ulcers in your digestive tract is responsible for gastric reflux.

Complications

• If it persists untreated, gastric reflux has the potential to cause narrowing or ulcers in your esophagus. Gastric reflux also increases your risk of developing precancerous cells in your esophagus, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Treatments

• Over-the-counter and prescription medications that reduce reduce stomach acid or limit or prevent its production are the most common treatments for gastric reflux. In some cases, doctors perform surgery to strengthen the muscles at the top of your stomach or to place a block in place to prohibit reflux entirely.