Disease

Question 1

What is gastro-oesophageal reflux disease? (GORD)

Answer 1

-chronic heartburn/sour taste in mouth/dysphagia (difficulty or discomfort in swallowing)

• main causes
• dysfunction of lower oseophageal spincters
  1. sliding, the lower oseophagel spincter slides superioly (reflux is a common problem)
  2. rolling, this is when the spincter remains in place but part of the stomach herniates into the chest next to it.
• delayed gastic emptying
• hiatal hernia (this is when part of the stomach protrudes into the chest through the oesophageal hiatus in diaphragm)