The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) estimates that 60 million Americans have heartburn at least once a month and that 15 million experience it every day. In a culture where fatty, rich, and spicy meals are prized, it’s not unexpected that some people have occasional heartburn. However, an excess of them can cause acid reflux, which in turn can cause gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which in turn can cause erosive esophagitis (EE), a condition that causes severe damage to the esophagus, the hollow muscular tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach.
If you have burning or vomiting more than twice a week and over-the-counter antacids and stomach medicines don’t help much or at all, you may have GERD. Pratima Dibba, M.D., gastroenterologist with the Medical Offices of Manhattan in New York City, gives you the details. Read the article.
