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Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
(GS008)

Introduction

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, (GERD) consists of a spectrum of symptoms that occur when gastric acid refluxes into the esophagus, thereby causing damage to it. One of the major contributing factors to GERD is the inability of the stomach to empty itself in a normal fashion (a motility disorder). This then leads to prolonged periods of contact between acid and the esophageal wall, thereby leading to inflammation and scarring of the esophagus.

Persons with occasional mild symptoms of GERD may not require any specific evaluation and may be candidates for direct treatment. Patients with regular symptoms of GERD (weekly symptoms or symptoms on a consistent basis) or patients with heartburn associated with difficulty swallowing, weight loss, anemia or bleeding need to be evaluated on a more aggressive basis.

The goal of medical care is to relieve symptoms and heal esophagitis. The severity of GERD symptoms and complications influence therapy selection. The symptoms of GERD are generally well controlled with appropriate lifestyle changes and available drug therapy. In very severe cases, surgery may needed to receive an acceptable response.

MediFocus Guides... When You Need Trustworthy Medical Information

The Medifocus Guide on Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) provides answers to the following important questions and medical issues:


What Your Doctor Reads:

This MediFocus Guide contains an extensive listing of citations and abstracts of recent journal articles that have been published about this condition in trustworthy medical journals. This is the same type of information that is available to physicians and other health care professionals. A partial selection of journal articles that are abstracted in this MediFocus Guide includes:


MediFocus Guides... When You Need Trustworthy Medical Information

MediFocus.com understands that consumers who are facing serious medical issues need access to credible, up-to-date medical information to help them make informed health-care decisions. That's why we've developed the MediFocus Guides...the most advanced and trustworthy patient research guides for over 200 chronic and life-threatening conditions. Each MediFocus Guide includes a detailed overview of the condition including information about diagnosis, treatment options, cutting-edge research, and new developments; excerpts of important journal articles from the current medical literature focusing on standard treatments and treatment options; a directory of leading authors and medical institutions who specialize in the treatment of the condition; and a listing of organizations and support groups where you can obtain additional information about the illness.

MediFocus Guides are the perfect solution for consumers who wish to gain an in-depth understanding of their medical issue and avail themselves of the same type of professional level medical information that is used by physicians and other health-care professionals to help then in the clinical decision making process.

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