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What is GERD?
Occasional
heartburn is normal. But heartburn that is frequent (more
than twice per week) and severe enough to impact your daily life
and/or damage your esophagus is known as gastroesophageal reflux
disease, or GERD.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, is a frequent and/or
severe form of heartburn, when the contents of the stomach backflow
(reflux) into the esophagus (the muscular tube where food passes
from mouth to stomach).
What is heartburn?
Heartburn is backflow (reflux) of acidic digestive juices from
the stomach into the esophagus, the muscular tube where food passes
from the mouth to the stomach.
What causes GERD?
In the normal esophagus, a valve called the lower esophageal sphincter,
or LES, opens to allow food to enter the stomach, then closes to
keep it from flowing back up into the esophagus (reflux).
In the esophagus of a patient with GERD, the LES weakens or relaxes
randomly, allowing stomach contents to reflux into the esophagus. This
can be uncomfortable or painful.
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 Important Safety Information
Note: The Bravo® pH Monitoring
System is not for everyone. Talk with your doctor
to see if the Bravo system is right for you. For more
information, contact Medtronic at (800) 227-3191. |
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