WEBVTT

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>> GERD, gastroesophageal
reflux disease.

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Heartburn is a common condition.

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It often follows a
binge at the buffet

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or a stressful day at work.

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Heartburn can make
you uncomfortable

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and even disturb your sleep.

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But if you get heartburn
more than twice a week,

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you may have a condition
known as GERD.

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GERD stands for gastroesophageal
reflux disease.

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Gastroesophageal refers to
your stomach and esophagus.

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The esophagus is the
tube that carries food

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from your mouth down
to your stomach.

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Reflux means to flow back.

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Gastroesophageal reflux is the
return of stomach acid and food

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from your stomach,
back up your esophagus.

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Symptoms. The most common
symptom of GERD is heartburn.

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Heartburn is also known
as acid indigestion.

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This refers to a burning
feeling in your chest,

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which can move up
into your throat.

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It often causes a bad
taste in your mouth.

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It can last several hours and
is often worse after eating.

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Lying down or bending over can
also make GERD symptoms worse.

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Other symptoms of GERD include
bad breath, nausea, vomiting

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and trouble swallowing.

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Occasional heartburn does
not mean you have GERD

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but heartburn more than twice
a week may be GERD and can lead

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to more serious health problems.

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Causes. The burning
feeling is caused

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by stomach acid moving
into your esophagus.

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The lining of your stomach is
designed to handle the acid.

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The lining of your
esophagus is not.

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At the end of your esophagus,

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there's a valve called your
lower esophageal sphincter

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or LES.

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The valve opens to let
food move into your stomach

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and then closes to
keep it there.

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If you have GERD, the LES
valve relaxes too often

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or for too long.

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This allows acid to move
backwards from your stomach

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and up into your
esophagus, causing heartburn.

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There are some things
that can weaken the valve

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and make reflux more likely.

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They include diabetes,
pregnancy and medicines used

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to treat high blood pressure
and heart conditions.

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Lifestyle factors
that can contribute

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to GERD include drinking too
much alcohol, overeating,

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being overweight and smoking.

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Diagnosis.

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To diagnose GERD, your
healthcare provider will ask

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about your medical
history and your symptoms.

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Some people with mild
symptoms may be treated

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without further testing.

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If your symptoms are
severe or do not get better

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with treatment, you
may have certain tests.

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One of these tests is a called
an upper gastrointestinal,

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or GI series.

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This is a special x-ray that
shows the esophagus, stomach

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and upper part of
the small intestine.

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The upper GI series does not
provide a lot of information

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about GERD, but it can help
to identify other problems

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that can cause similar pain.

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Another test is called
endoscopy.

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This procedure uses an
endoscope, which is a thin,

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flexible tube with a light
and a camera on the end.

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The scope is moved
down through your mouth

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and throat into your esophagus.

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Your healthcare provider
can then look

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at the LES and esophagus.

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A small sample of tissue
may be taken for testing.

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Other tests may be done, too.

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Esophageal pH and impedance
monitoring measure the amount

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of acid in your esophagus.

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Esophageal manometry
checks the strength

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of your esophagus muscles.

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Treatment.

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GERD is treated with
lifestyle changes and medicine.

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Lifestyle changes include weight
loss, if you're overweight;

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not lying down right after
eating; quitting smoking

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and staying away from
certain foods and drinks.

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Not having alcohol or caffeine
can help prevent symptoms.

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And not eating the foods that
cause symptoms will help.

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Common foods to avoid include
fried, spicy and fatty foods.

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Plus acidic foods, such as
citrus fruits and tomatoes.

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You should also stay
away from peppermint,

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which causes the stomach
to make more acid.

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To help prevent reflux while
you sleep, raise the head

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of your bed by six inches,
by placing blocks of wood

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or thick books under the legs.

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Medicines called antacids
can also help stop heartburn.

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Many chewable and liquid
antacids give quick relief.

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These make the stomach
acid less acidic.

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Other medicines, such as
histamine two or H2 blockers

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and proton pump inhibitors cause
the stomach to make less acid.

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These are available over the
counter and by prescription.

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Your healthcare provider may
prescribe other medicines called

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promotility agents.

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These help move food
through your stomach.

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Talk with your healthcare
provider

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about whether medicines
are right for you.

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In severe cases that don't get
better with lifestyle changes

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and medicines, surgery
may be needed.

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Your healthcare provider can
tell you more about the types

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of surgery that can help.

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Things to remember.

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Don't lie down right
after eating.

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Raise the head of your
bed by placing wood blocks

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or thick books under the legs.

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Stay away from foods and drinks
that can make heartburn worse.

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Take antacid medicines, as your
healthcare provider recommends.

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Not all heartburn is GERD.

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Talk with your healthcare
provider about your symptoms.

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Medicines and some simple
changes can help you feel better

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right away.

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What we have learned.

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Heartburn is caused by
stomach acid in the esophagus.

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True or false?

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The answer is true.

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The acid burns the
lining of the esophagus.

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Stomach acid backs up
because of a weak valve.

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True or false?

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The answer is true.

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The LES valve at the end

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of the esophagus does not
stay closed as it should.

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Reflux means backing up.

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True or false?

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The answer is true.

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In GERD, stomach acid backs
up into the esophagus.

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[ Music ]

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