What is "GORD"?????

"What is GORD"

                             Many people experience heartburn, indigestion, acidic taste in the mouth and stomach upsets every now and then.  However, if  you suffer from these symptoms more than once a week,

GORD is a condition where acid from your stomach flows back up into your oesophagus  ( the tube that takes food from your mouth to the stomach )   GORD is a very common condition, they say it is estimated that about 20% of all Australiams have symptoms of reflux at least occasionally.   But there is a small percentage of people who suffer, from a more serious form of this  disease, called,  ("Zollinger- Ellison Syndrome" )  though this is a rare condition, where the stomach produces very large amounts of acid,, much more than in ulcers and reflux.

To help digestion, strong acids in your stomach break the food down. Your stomach wall is coated with thick mucous to protect it from these highly corrosive acids.  Your oesophagus, on the other hand, has a delicate mucous lining.   A muscle called the "Lower Oesophageal Sphincter" connects your oesophagus with your stomach.  In normal digestion, the sphincter muscle opens to allow food to pass into your stomach,  then quickly closes.

If the sphincter muscle opens when it shouldn't, stomach acid can flow back up into your oesophagus.  When acid flows back up onto the oesophagus it can cause a burning sensation which is commonly called "heartburn".

"What causes GORD???"

Many things can cause GORD.

The most common are;

Diet

Eating large meals

being overweight

Smoking and alcohol use

certain medications

Pregnancy

"Most common symptoms of GORD"

Heartburn This is  most common symptom of GORD. It usually feels like a burning sensation in your chest and can rise upwards to your neck and throat.

Regurgitation  Regurgitation  occurs when stomach contents flows back up from the oesophagus into your throat, so food repeats itself in your mouth.

Acid Indigestion Occurs when stomach acids reach the throat, resulting in a sour or acidic taste in the mouth.

If you suffer with any of these symptoms, more than a few times per week, it would be advisable to see your G.P.

Thanks for popping in to read this......Hugs Janice