Acid reflux disease and heartburn are frequently used terms for symptoms of GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease. This is a chronic disease in which the digestive fluids in the stomach flow backward into the esophagus. If untreated, this condition may lead to esophageal damage which might necessitate surgical intervention or become life-threatening. To halt complications from acid reflux, once medical treatment for acid reflux disease has begun, it is often or usually necessary to continue it indefinitely. Medications can help to repair the damage but, if discontinued, the symptoms and their damage may reoccur.

Specifically, there is a spot as the esophagus goes down through the diaphragm where the lower end of the esophagus attaches to the stomach and this junction is managed by a one-way valve called the, "lower esophageal sphincter," or LES. When this structure fails to shut completely after swallowing, or is squeezed apart, liquid stomach contents can ascend back upward into the esophagus.

There is some disagreement as to the best way to control this, but several of the major culprits are widely understood and, luckily, the majority of them are things which can be controlled to at least some degree. Pressure caused by the stomach and its contents can push against the LES permitting acid to leak back through. Being overweight and eating large amounts are two things which increase this pressure.

Excess acid can also damage the function of the LES, whether the acid is in the food itself or is produced by the stomach for digestion. Bulky, rich or high fat foods take longer to digest and require more acid for digestion, so they can actually cause difficulties in two ways.

One of the convenient, least restrictive methods of improving acid reflux disease is merely to eat your normal diet over the day in many small meals, as opposed to three large ones. This lifestyle change has also helped some people to lose weight as they don't feel starved and overeat before feeling satisfied.

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