Acid Reflux & Chest Pain

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a disease of the gastrointestinal tract. The condition is a painful response from stomach acid entering the esophagus. The acid eats away at the tissue, causing the chest pains commonly called heartburn. GERD starts with mild pain, but it can progress into more severe damage of the esophagus tissue.

Heartburn

• Heartburn happens to people after eating a meal or exercising. Heartburn is the common name for GERD, but the condition has nothing to do with the heart. The term was derived from the acute pain in the chest area. Most people feel heartburn at night or when they wake in the morning.

GERD

• People's swallowed food travels down the esophagus to the stomach. The end of the esophagus connected to the stomach is called the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES. This part of the esophagus closes tightly when food is not consumed. If the LES does not close properly, acid is able to enter the esophagus and cause pain and potential damage to tissue.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of GERD are the pain and nausea that is felt when acid enters the esophagus. In severe GERD cases, patients may vomit. Because of the tissue damage, patients also have problems swallowing. Minor symptoms include burping, sore throat and coughing.

Risk Factors

• One risk factor associated with GERD, include a hiatal hernia, where the stomach protrudes through an opening in the diaphragm. The abnormal formation of the stomach leads to acid entering the esophagus. Pregnant women and people who smoke or are obese are more prone than others to gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Treatment

• Treatments vary depending on the severity of the condition. Prescription antacids such as Nexium are used to control mild conditions. These drugs control acid productions and neutralize the acid that comes into contact with the esophagus. For more severe issues, surgery may be required to fix the LES.