| Abstrakt: |
In gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), acid from the stomach splashes upward, or refluxes, and burns the esophagus (the tube connecting the mouth and throat to the stomach). Normally, a type of sphincter muscle keeps the upper part of the stomach closed, but various factors may loosen it, allowing acid to rise more easily. The result is pain in the chest, commonly known as heartburn. GERD is generally made worse by lying down because gravity no longer restrains the upward movement of stomach contents. In infants, the major issue with GERD is not pain but the spitting up (vomiting) of food or milk. |
