What Are the Symptoms of Moderate Gastroesophageal Reflux?
Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is the backflow of stomach contents into the lower end of the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat to the stomach. Normally, the stomach contents are prevented from getting into the esophagus by a ring of muscular tissue called the lower esophageal sphincter, which is situated at the junction of the esophagus and the stomach. If the lower esophageal sphincter opens when it should not, stomach contents may get pushed up into the esophagus. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health states gastroesophageal reflux that occurs three or more times per week on a regular basis constitutes a medical condition called GERD–gastroesophageal reflux disease. The symptoms of GER and GERD are the same; the difference is how frequently they occur.
