Acid reflux, and the more serious form of this condition, gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, occur when food and stomach acid travel back up your esophagus due to your lower esophageal sphincter not functioning properly. Heartburn is a common symptom of this condition, but not the only symptom. Acid regurgitation is another common symptom, and GERD can also cause chest pain or a cough.
GERD is a very common disorder, with up to one-third of the U.S. population suffering from GERD symptoms each week, and up to 60 percent of the population suffering from acid reflux at some point during each year. If you suffer from acid reflux more than twice per week you should check with your doctor to see if you have GERD.
$10 billion is spent each year treating acid reflux and GERD.
Of those suffering from persistent acid reflux disease (more than 3 episodes per week) have a 50% chance of doing permanent damage to their esophagus.
Approximately 4.2 percent of people hospitalized with GERD symptoms have some type of esophageal disorder, and 8 of every 1,000 people hospitalized with GERD symptoms suffer from Barrett’s esophagus, which increases your risk for throat cancer.
Older people are more likely to suffer from GERD than younger people, with over half of GERD sufferers falling between the ages of 45 and 64 years old. However, even infants can suffer from this condition, as it can affect people of all ages
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