Publisher's Synopsis
PREVIEW
Acid reflux is what happens when some of the acid content of the stomach flows up into the esophagus. Heartburn is the burning feeling a person gets when they have acid reflux. Frequent acid reflux may mean a person has GERD.
Although people may use the terms interchangeably, heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux, also known Trusted Source as gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Despite the name, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a more serious form of GER. Doctors will diagnose GERD when acid reflux becomes a recurrent complaint about an individual, usually more than twice a weekTrusted Source for several weeks at a time.
GERD is most common in Western countries, affecting an estimated 20%Trusted Source of the population in these regions.
About 20% of Americans also have GERD, and it is the most commonTrusted Source gastrointestinal condition diagnosed in the outpatient setting.
About 60% of people who have GERD are women. Among people living with GERD, African Americans account for the second-largest group after people who are white.
