Heartburn No More PDF / Book Is Jeff Martin's eBook Free Download? | Page 24

25
Section One – The Truth About
Heartburn
What is GERD (acid reflux)?
Heartburn, the burning sensation in the middle of the chest that is usually
triggered after eating, is actually the most common symptom of a more
complex disorder called GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease) or acid
reflux – a condition where the stomach refluxes or backs up its liquid content
to the esophagus.
Since the stomach contains acid, in addition to bile and several digestive
enzymes such as pepsin, the liquid returned to the esophagus comes into
direct contact with the lining of the esophagus, causing agitation and a
burning sensation.
If the body cannot prevent the acidic mixture from backing up into the
esophagus, in time it can seriously damage the esophagus and lead to
dangerous complications.
The esophagus is a muscular tube in which food is transported using
muscular contractions from the mouth to the stomach. Normally, the lower
esophageal sphincter (LES), located at the bottom of the esophagus, serves
as a one-way valve that opens automatically to allow food to enter the
stomach and closes automatically to prevent the acidic content of the stomach
to reflux into the esophagus. However, when the LES “relaxes,” is weak or
loose and doesn’t operate accordingly and in appropriate times (e.g., stays
open when it needs to be closed), the content of the stomach flows back into
the esophagus.
Jeff Martin – Heartburn No More
Page 25