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Updated: 21 August, 2026
GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a chronic digestive condition in which stomach contents repeatedly flow back into the esophagus. This happens when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the muscular valve between the esophagus and stomach, does not close effectively.
Occasional acid reflux is common, but frequent or persistent reflux may indicate GERD. Symptoms can include heartburn, regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, chronic cough, throat irritation, and symptoms that worsen after eating or while lying down.
Many people can manage GERD with dietary changes, lifestyle modifications, and medications. When symptoms remain severe despite treatment, further testing or procedures such as anti-reflux surgery may be considered.
In normal digestion, the LES opens to allow foods to pass through the stomach and closes to prevent food and acidic stomach juices to flow back into the esophagus. Gastroesophageal reflux occurs when your LES is weak and allows your stomach’s contents to flow back into your esophagus.
Acid reflux occurs when stomach contents move backward into the esophagus. Occasional reflux may happen after a large meal, certain foods, or lying down soon after eating.
GERD is generally characterized by reflux that occurs repeatedly, causes troublesome symptoms, or leads to inflammation or other complications involving the esophagus.
During normal digestion, the lower esophageal sphincter opens to allow food to enter the stomach and then closes. When this muscle becomes weak or relaxes when it should not, stomach contents can travel upward and irritate the lining of the esophagus.
Some doctors believe that hiatal hernia may weaken your LES and increase the risk for GERD. A hiatal hernia occurs when the upper part of your stomach in the abdominal cavity is pushed out through an opening in the diaphragm into your chest cavity. This hernia is common in people ages 50 and up. However, it can be congenital in children. Having a hiatal hernia may cause the stomach’s contents to easily flow back into the esophagus.
A hiatal hernia occurs when part of the stomach moves upward through an opening in the diaphragm into the chest. A hiatal hernia does not always cause GERD, but it can make reflux more likely by affecting the normal relationship between the stomach, diaphragm, and lower esophageal sphincter.
People with a hiatal hernia may experience heartburn, regurgitation, chest discomfort, difficulty swallowing, or reflux after eating. However, some people have no symptoms at all.
Treatment depends on the severity of symptoms. Lifestyle changes and medications may be sufficient for many patients, while surgery may be considered when significant reflux or other complications persist.
Some of the GERD causes include:
GERD usually develops because several factors affect the function of the lower esophageal sphincter or increase pressure within the abdomen. Excess body weight, pregnancy, smoking, delayed stomach emptying, and hiatal hernia can contribute to reflux. Certain foods, medications, and eating habits may also trigger symptoms in people who already have GERD.
Common GERD Triggers
GERD triggers vary between individuals, but symptoms may become worse after:
If you have GERD, you may experience symptoms such as:
Not everyone with GERD experiences heartburn. Some people primarily develop throat, respiratory, or swallowing symptoms.
GERD often becomes more noticeable at night because lying flat makes it easier for stomach contents to move upward into the esophagus. Symptoms may also worsen when a person eats a large meal or goes to bed soon after eating.
Nighttime GERD may cause heartburn, regurgitation, coughing, throat irritation, hoarseness, or disrupted sleep.
To reduce nighttime symptoms, patients may be advised to avoid eating for several hours before bedtime, limit foods that trigger reflux, and elevate the head of the bed when appropriate.
GERD treatment depends on how often symptoms occur, how severe they are, and whether the esophagus has been damaged. Treatment typically begins with lifestyle and dietary changes and may progress to medications or procedures when symptoms remain uncontrolled.
Along with these lifestyle modifications, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter medications to reduce heartburn, acid reflux, and other GERD symptoms.
Diet does not affect everyone with GERD in the same way. Rather than eliminating large groups of foods unnecessarily, it can help to identify which foods repeatedly trigger your symptoms.
Depending on individual tolerance, options may include:
Common triggers include:
Persistent GERD symptoms may require further evaluation, particularly when lifestyle changes and appropriate medications have not provided adequate relief. Testing can confirm whether reflux is occurring, evaluate the esophagus for damage, and identify other conditions that may be causing similar symptoms.
You should visit your doctor if the above-mentioned remedies do not work. Your doctor will perform any of these procedures or tests to diagnose your GERD symptoms or complications:
Medications may be recommended when lifestyle changes alone do not adequately control symptoms.
The appropriate medication depends on symptom frequency, other health conditions, and medications a patient is already taking. Persistent symptoms should be evaluated rather than managed indefinitely with over-the-counter medication alone.
Most people with GERD do not require surgery. Anti-reflux surgery may be considered when symptoms remain troublesome despite appropriate medical treatment, when objective testing confirms significant reflux, or when a patient has an anatomical problem such as a significant hiatal hernia.
Surgical treatment may also be discussed with selected patients who want an alternative to long-term medication after appropriate evaluation. The decision should be based on symptoms, endoscopy findings, reflux testing, esophageal function, anatomy, and overall health.
1. Fundoplication: It is a minimally invasive procedure. Your doctor wraps the top of your stomach around the LES, to tighten the muscle and prevent reflux.
2. Stretta Procedure: The Stretta procedure is an endoscopic treatment rather than laparoscopic surgery. Radiofrequency energy is delivered to tissue near the lower esophageal sphincter with the goal of improving reflux control in selected patients.
3. LINX Device: The LINX reflux device is laparoscopically placed around the lower end of the esophagus to strengthen a weak LES. The device is strong enough to keep the opening closed to refluxing acid and weak enough to allow food and liquid to pass through.
Frequent or poorly controlled GERD can repeatedly expose the esophagus to stomach contents and cause inflammation or tissue damage over time.
Potential complications include:
Related Article: What is the LINX Reflux Management System?
Medical evaluation is appropriate when reflux symptoms occur frequently, continue despite treatment, or interfere with eating or sleep.
Chest pain accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, or pain spreading to the arm, jaw, or back requires urgent medical evaluation because heart-related conditions can produce similar symptoms.
Timely diagnosis and treatment will save you from severe complications.
If you suspect that you have GERD, Contact us right away for the best treatment. Dr. Madhu Prasad is the best surgeon in Anchorage, Alaska. He has brought the LINX technology to Far North Surgical and Alaska for the first time.
Acid reflux commonly causes a burning sensation in the chest, regurgitation, or a sour taste in the mouth. Some people also experience throat irritation, coughing, difficulty swallowing, or discomfort after eating.
An individual episode may last from several minutes to several hours. Reflux that happens repeatedly or causes ongoing symptoms may indicate GERD.
Yes. Some people experience chronic cough, hoarseness, throat clearing, difficulty swallowing, or regurgitation without typical heartburn.
Eating increases the amount of food and pressure in the stomach. Large meals, high-fat foods, and lying down soon afterward can make reflux more likely.
Lifestyle changes can significantly reduce symptoms for some people, particularly when reflux is associated with excess weight, meal timing, smoking, or specific food triggers. Others may also need medications or additional treatment.
Yes. A hiatal hernia can interfere with the normal reflux barrier and make it easier for stomach contents to enter the esophagus, although not everyone with a hiatal hernia develops GERD.
