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Some amount of reflux is normal in everyone, typically after meals. But if reflux is several times a week and occurs even at night, then you are most definitely a victim of GERD.

GERD is the term used for backward flow of gastric contents into the esophagus. This happens due to the malfunctioning of a muscular valve known as the lower esophageal sphincter(LES) whose function it is to keep the contents of the stomach from escaping into the esophagus. The classic symptom of GERD is heartburn. When this acid that refluxes into the esophagus is present for a long time such as when the person is lying down, then the lining of the esophagus gets inflamed and in the long run can lead to cancer.

Medications cannot cure GERD but can help alleviate the symptoms and prevent damage to the esophagus. Several non-medical approaches have been have been put forward to offer a permanent cure.

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Depending on severity, the various treatments include lifestyle and dietary changes for mild symptoms and medication and surgery for moderate to severe GERD.

The lifestyle changes include quitting smoking, avoiding or limiting reflux inducing foods, having meals at least three to four hours before bed, weight loss in significantly overweight people, elevating the head of the bed 6-8 inches to avoid nighttime reflux,avoiding tight fitting clothes and eating smaller meals and preventing the stomach getting distending with larger meals.

Medications for GERD are chiefly antacids and other prescription medicines that decrease stomach acid production such as the proton pump inhibitors.

In extreme cases, surgery may be considered. Surgery options are both laparoscopic and open versions of the Nissen Fundoplication. Laparoscopic of course is the preferred of the two as it is less invasive and decreases post-surgical recovery time. Stretta and endo-cinch are newer procedures which are least invasive with fewer complications but with a lower rate of improvement. Surgery works by rebuilding the upper end of the stomach into a highpressure zone that prevents reflux of acid into the esophagus but not strong enough to prevent food from entering the stomach.

Prevention or early detection and adoption of a better lifestyle is the key to health, no matter what the disorder is.