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What is GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease?GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) is chronic symptoms or mucosal damage cause by stomach acid coming up from the stomach into the esophagus. A typical symptom is heartburn. GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) is usually caused by changes in the barrier between the stomach and the esophagus, including abnormal relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter, which normally holds the top of the stomach closed; impaired expulsion of gastric reflux from the esophagus, or a hiatal hernia.
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Why does Pharm-Aloe® work?Pharm-Aloe® Aloe Vera Leaf Juice, an all natural product
without side effects that contains naturally occurring polysaccharides that are known for their
pain-relieving and
anti-inflammatory properties as well as stimulating the immune system which facilitates healing.
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Causes and Effects
GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) is caused by a failure of the cardia. In healthy patients, the "Angle of His" - the angle at which the esophagus enters the stomach - creates a valve that prevents duodenal bile, enzymes, and stomach acid from traveling back into the esophagus where they can cause burning and inflammation of sensitive esophageal tissue.[1]
Factors that can contribute to GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease):
- Hiatal Hernia, which increases the likelihood of GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) due to mechanical and motility factors
- Obesity, increasing body mass index is associated with more severe GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
- Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, which can be present with increased gastric acidity due to gastrin production
- Hypercalcemia, which can increase gastrin production, leading to increased acidity
- Scleroderma and systemic sclerosis, which can feature esophageal dysmotlity
- The use of medicines such as Prednisolone
- Visceroptosis Syndrome, in which the stomach has sunk in the abdomen upsetting the motility and acid secretion [1]
Symptoms
The most-common symptoms of GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) are:
- Heartburn
- Regurgitation
- Trouble swallowing
Less-common symptoms include:
- Pain with swallowing
- Excessive salivation is common during heartburn, as saliva is generally slightly alkaline and is the body's natural response to heartburn, acting similarly to an antacid.
- Nausea
- Chest Pain
GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) sometimes causes injury of the esophagus. These injuries include:
- Reflux Esophagitis, necrosis of esophageal epithelium causing ulcers near the junction of the stomach and esophagus
- Esophageal Strictures, the persistent narrowing of the esophagus caused by reflux-induced inflammation
- Barrett's Esophagus, intestinal metaplasia (changes of the epithelial cells from squamous to intestinal columnar epithelium) of the distal esophagus
- Esophageal Adenocarcinoma, a rare form of cancer
Several other atypical symptoms are associated with GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease), but there is good evidence for the causation only when they are accompanied by esophageal injury. These symptoms include:
- Chronic cough
- Laryngitis
- Asthma
- Erosion of dental enamel
- Dentine hypersensitivity
- Sinusitis and damaged teeth
- Pharyngitis [1]