Sometimes referred to as GER, heartburn (which is actually just a symptom
of reflux) or acid reflux, reflux is the backward flow of stomach contents
up the esophagus and sometimes out the mouth. The esophagus is a long tube
that carries food and liquids from your mouth to your stomach. At the
lower end of the esophagus, a valve called the lower esophageal sphincter,
or LES, opens when you swallow to let food and liquids into your stomach,
and then closes again to keep stomach contents in their place.
When the LES doesn't function properly it allows stomach contents
including hydrochloric acid to back up into the esophagus. This is what
causes the pain and damage from reflux. Our stomachs have a protective
lining to protect itself from the naturally occurring acid, the esophagus,
throat, nasal cavities, lungs and teeth do not. Over time, repeated
exposure to these areas by acid can cause increasing damage and cause more
serious complications.
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GER OR GERD? LEARN HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE |
laryngopharyngeal reflux |
SILENT REFLUX |
From the page
about reflux, you've already learned what reflux is. Here, we
will go into more detail on the different terms used to refer to
reflux. This information applies to adults as well, not just
infants with reflux. The (...)
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When refluxed material comes all the way up the
esophagus, past the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) at the top of
the esophagus and into the throat it's referred to as
Laryngopharyngeal Reflux or LPR. The throat (...)
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ALL » |
Silent GER refers to GER or GERD without any
outward or typical symptoms. This could mean that a child
isn't vomiting or appearing uncomfortable but is having reflux
episodes. Some children may swallow the refluxed material (...)
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