GERD

Question 1

What is esophagitis?

Answer 1

inflammation of the esophagus and usually the first sign leading towards GERD

Question 2

dysphagia

Answer 2

difficulty swallowing

Question 3

Barrett’s esophagus

Answer 3

severe complication of GERD indicating a long-term assault of reflux on the esophagus and is linked to developing cancer. When intestinal-type columnar epithelium cells replace normal but ulcerated squamous epithelium cells

Question 4

TLESR

Answer 4

Transient Lower Esophageal Sphincter Relaxation - Spontaneous LES relxation not associated with swallowing

Question 5

What increases nocturnal GERD?

Answer 5

Meals within 2-3 hours of bedtime or with alcohol increase acid production and increase nocturnal GERD

Question 6

List some foods that aggravate GERD

Answer 6

• raw onions
• caffeine
• chocolate
• alcohol
• tomato products
• spicy foods
• citrus
• peppermint
• carbonated beverages
• coffee
• tea

Question 7

Why does pregnancy trigger GERD?

Answer 7

occurs not due to the higher intra-gastric pressure but from the effects of estrogen and progesterone on the LES

Question 8

How does smoking trigger GERD?

Answer 8

Smoking promotes the movement of bile from the intestine to the stomach which changes the content of the reflux. Smoking also inhibits saliva secretion thereby stopping a natural defence mechanism against the refluxate.

Question 9

List 4 factors that trigger GERD

Answer 9

1. smoking
2. Pregnancy
3. Obesity
4. Medications

Question 10

What is a hiatial hernia?

Answer 10

http://images.medicinenet.com/images/
illustrations/stomach_diagram.jpg

When a hernia forms above the diaphragm and the LES is shifted above the diaphragm instead of after