Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a chronic upper gastrointestinal disease in which stomach content persistently and regularly flows up into the esophagus, producing symptoms or complications. Symptoms include dental corrosion, difficulty swallowing, heartburn, painful swallowing, regurgitation, non-cardiac chest pain, and extraesophageal symptoms such as chronic cough, hoarseness, reflux-induced laryngitis, or asthma. Left untreated over the long term, complications such as esophagitis, esophageal stricture, and Barrett's esophagus may arise.