Gastroesophageal reflux disease - Research Paper Example

Gastroesophageal reflux Disease Gastroespohageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a disease caused because of the reflux of the gastric contents into the lower portion of the esophagus. It is believed that GERD is primarily caused because of several reasons which increase the probability of moving the contents into the esophagus. There are some normal mechanisms such as esophagus antireflux mechanism which do not allow the reflux to reach the esophagus but if these mechanisms fail to work GERD occurs.

Similarly if a person is suffering from hiatal hernia then also a reflux of the contents occurs. If the stomach motility is disturbed then it is possible that the contents would last their much longer and this would increase the bulk of the gastric contents which would reflux into the esophagus (Kumar et al 2005; Dore et al 2008). The reflux from the stomach can lead to esophagitis which means inflammation of the esophagus. The gastric juices entering the stomach can lead to an injury of the gastric mucosa of the esophagus and this leads to irritation in the esophagus.

Most of the cases of GERD are primarily seen in children and the clinical features show heartburn, hematemesis or melena. The damage to the esophageal mucosa does not depend upon the symptoms of GERD but rather depend upon the time for which these symptoms have been occurring. If a reflux is not stopped for a long time then it is possible that much of the esophageal mucosa would be damaged. If the condition of GERD gets severe a person would face the problem of bleeding, ulcers, strictures and may possibly develop Barrett Esophagus (Kumar et al 2005; Hall & Guyton 2006).

References KUMAR, V., ABBAS, A. K., FAUSTO, N., ROBBINS, S. L., & COTRAN, R. S. (2005). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disease. Philadelphia, Elsevier Saunders. Hall, J. E., & Guyton, A. C. (2006). Guyton & Hall physiology review. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders. Top of Form Dore, M. P., Maragkoudakis, E., Pedroni, A., Tadeu, V., Delitala, G., Graham, D. Y., Malaty, H. M., . Realdi, G. (August 01, 2008). Diet, lifestyle and gender in gastro-esophageal reflux disease. Digestive Diseases and Sciences, 53, 8, 2027-2032.

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