GORD

What is GORD?

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (otherwise known as GORD) is a condition consisting of recurring episodes of heartburn and acid reflux. Heartburn is an uncomfortable burning sensation in your chest, usually after you’ve eaten. Acid reflux is a burning in your throat caused by stomach acid.

Who gets GORD?

Almost everyone will experience heartburn and acid reflux in their lives. But there are some factors that can make people more likely to develop GORD. These include:

• being overweight or obese
• eating a large amount of fatty foods: this causes excess acid to linger in the stomach
• smoking, drinking alcohol, drinking coffee and eating chocolate
• pregnancycertain conditions like gastroparesis and hiatus hernia
• certain medicines like calcium-channel blockers, nitrates and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen
• excess stress

How common is GORD?

GORD is quite common. A study by the US National Library of Medicine found that up to 20% of the entire Western population have it.^[1] If you have GORD, the bright side is that there’s a range of treatments and lots of people in the same boat as you.

What causes GORD?

GORD is usually caused by the ring of muscle at the bottom of the oesophagus (known as the lower oesophageal sphincter) becoming weaker. The oesophagus connects your mouth to your stomach, and this ring of muscle opens and closes to let food in.

If the muscle becomes weaker, it can’t always close as it’s supposed to, and it isn’t able to stop your stomach acid from leaking up your throat. This causes the symptoms of GORD, like heartburn and acid reflux.

What are the symptoms of GORD?

The main symptoms of GORD are heartburn and acid reflux. These cause burning in the chest and throat, often after eating. Sometimes acid reflux comes with a sour taste in the mouth.

There are other symptoms which may appear. These can include oesophagitis, meaning a sore and swollen oesophagus. GORD can also appear with:

• bad breath
• bloating and belching
• nausea
• pain when swallowing
• hiccups
• coughing
• bloating

Can GORD lead to other problems?

Usually, GORD causes mild but uncomfortable symptoms. But if GORD is quite severe and untreated for a long period of time, it can cause some complications. These include:

Oesophageal ulcers

Stomach acid in the throat can eventually begin to damage the lining of the oesophagus, leading to ulcers. Ulcers may bleed, cause pain and make it hard to swallow. A lot of medication used to treat GORD can also treat or reduce the risk of ulcers.

Scarred and narrow oesophagus

Sometimes damage caused by stomach acid causes scarring and narrowing of the throat. This is also known as oesophageal stricture and can make it incredibly difficult and painful to swallow. There is a procedure that widens the oesophagus, often by using a small balloon.

Barrett’s oesophagus

Repeated episodes of GORD can sometimes lead to a change in cells that line the lower oesophagus. This is known as Barrett’s oesophagus. About 6% of people with chronic GORD end up developing Barrett’s oesophagus.^[1]

There usually aren’t any noticeable symptoms with Barrett’s oesophagus. Very rarely, it can be associated with oesophageal cancer. A clinician may suggest having an endoscopy every few years to keep an eye on this.

Oesophageal cancer

It’s very rare to develop oesophageal cancer even if you have Barrett’s oesophagus. But having Barrett’s oesophagus does make you ten times more likely to develop oesophageal cancer.^[2]

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, you should speak to a clinician. The best thing you can do for your health is to treat your GORD early.