Don’t Be A Nerd About GERD!

By Dr. Patrick Giammarise, DC, LDHS

If you were visiting with a friend and they told you, “I’ve been diagnosed with GERD” - even if you didn’t know what it was - it doesn’t sound very good.

And you would be right!

Most people have heard of heartburn, but GERD?  GERD, aka heartburn or acid reflux, stands for Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disorder. (Heartburn is really a descriptive word of what people feel when they have GERD.)

Eating is one of life’s most treasured pleasures for many of us. If you suffer from heartburn however, eating can turn into a burning sensation that can take the pleasure out of the most delicious meal.

Is Stomach Acid A Good Thing?

GERD occurs when acids from the stomach move up through the muscular opening in the diaphragm and into the esophagus. This creates a burning sensation, indigestion or worse, a regurgitation of stomach contents.

While your stomach lining is designed to handle these acidic compounds, your esophagus is not. Untreated, acid reflux can eventually damage, ulcerate or even cause… (read more)