Coming home very tired and hungry yesterday pushed me to grab a mouthful of donuts from the refirgerator followed by 2 slices of pizza and one can of coke. Lounging on the sofa bed after I've eaten those, I felt discomfort inside my stomach. I've over eaten obviously. I felt a burning and a tight feeling inside my chest. I drank a glass of water but I felt worst. I stood for a while and took a deep breathe from time to time and I felt a little better.

The next morning I found out that the thing happened to me is called heartburn. In more serious matter it is known as Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), Gastric reflux disease, or Acid reflux disease.

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GERD is the short term for Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease. "Gastro" (a common English-language prefix derived from the ancient Greek gastros)is the stomach. Esophageal is the esophagus , the passage that carries food from the mouth through the pharynx and to the stomach. Reflux means to back-up or flow backwards.

GERD happens when the acid, bile and partially-digested food in the stomach back up into the esophagus often causing inflammation of the esophagus. In other words When refluxed stomach acid touches the lining of the esophagus, it causes a burning sensation in the chest or throat called heartburn.

GERD is a chronic condition that may lead to more serious medical conditions. GERD is treatable.


SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
(reported by the Wikipedia)

Adults

The most-common symptoms of GERD are:

* Heartburn
* Regurgitation
* Trouble swallowing (dysphagia)

Less-common symptoms include:

* Pain with swallowing (odynophagia)
* Excessive salivation (this is common during heartburn, as saliva is generally slightly basic[2] and is the body's natural response to heartburn, acting similarly to an antacid)
* Nausea
* Chest pain

GERD sometimes causes injury of the esophagus. These injuries may 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—metaplasia (changes of the epithelial cells from squamous to columnar epithelium) of the distal esophagus.
* Esophageal adenocarcinoma—a rare form of cancer.

Several other atypical symptoms are associated with GERD, but there is good evidence for causation only when they are accompanied by esophageal injury. These symptoms are:

* Chronic cough
* Laryngitis (hoarseness, throat clearing)
* Asthma
* Erosion of dental enamel
* Dentine hypersensitivity
* Sinusitis and damaged teeth

Some people have proposed that symptoms such as pharyngitis, sinusitis, recurrent ear infections, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis are due to GERD; however, a causative role has not been established.

Children (GERD symptoms infant)

GERD may be difficult to detect in infants and children. Symptoms may vary from typical adult symptoms. GERD in children may cause repeated vomiting, effortless spitting up, coughing, and other respiratory problems. Inconsolable crying, failure to gain adequate weight, refusing food, bad breath, and belching or burping are also common. Children may have one symptom or many — no single symptom is universal in all children with GERD.

Common symptoms of Paediatric Reflux

* Irritability and pain, sometimes screaming suddenly when asleep. Constant or sudden crying or “colic” like

symptoms. Babies can be inconsolable especially when laid down flat.

* Poor sleep habits typically with arching their necks and back during or after feeding
* Excessive possetting or vomiting
* Frequent burping or frequent hiccups
* Excessive dribbling or running nose
* Swallowing problems, gagging and choking
* Frequent ear infections or sinus congestion
* Babies are often very gassy and extremely difficult to “burp” after feeds
* Refusing feeds or frequent feeds for comfort
* Night time coughing, extreme cases of acid reflux can cause apnoea and respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia if stomach contents are inhaled.
* Bad breath – smelling acidy
* Rancid/acid smelling diapers with loose stool. Bowel movements can be very frequent or babies can be constipated.