It’s pretty common, as laymen, to use the terms acid reflux and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) interchangeably. At the outset, acid reflux is a common medical condition, ranging from mild to mildly severe. However, with GERD, it could be chronic. Here, we’ll delve deeper into understanding the difference between GERD and acid reflux.

1. What exactly is acid reflux?
A tiny circular muscle called the esophageal sphincter (LES) joins the esophagus and the stomach. It’s responsible for constricting or tightening the esophagus after the food passes down to the stomach. In cases where the muscle is weak or doesn’t tighten properly, the acid that forms in the stomach moves back into the esophagus and causes what’s referred to as acid reflux. When this happens, one experiences the following symptoms:

• Heartburn (the most common sign)
• Sore throat
• Bitter taste right at the back of the throat
• Pressure that extends right up to the breastbone
• Cough

2. What is GERD?
GERD is a condition where acid reflux gets chronic. Experts or doctors usually diagnose the condition as GERD if the person experiences acid reflux more than two or three times a week or when the disease causes inflammation in the esophagus. It’s to be noted that long-term damage to the esophagus can cause cancer. So diagnosis must be made on time. The symptoms of GERD are:

• Bad or foul breath
• Pain in the chest
• Persistent dry cough
• Trouble swallowing
• Regurgitation (the person feels that the stomach contents are coming back to the throat or mouth)
• Asthma (in some instances)
• Trouble swallowing
• Heartburn

3. Difference between acid reflux and GERD treatments
Acid reflux can be managed through simple lifestyle changes like losing extra weight, eating smaller portions, sleeping with the bed’s head raised, avoiding fried or fatty items, and reducing alcohol and tobacco consumption. Some OTC medicines like antacids or famotidine can also help control acid reflux.

On the other hand, when it comes to GERD, simple lifestyle changes may not suffice. Prescription medicines become necessary. In severe cases, one might even need surgery or other procedures.

4. Why does one get confused between acid reflux and GERD?
As mentioned above, both the conditions are pretty different. One of the reasons why they’re understood interchangeably is because of heartburn – a symptom common to both diseases and perhaps the first to show up. Heartburn, which primarily occurs in the digestive system, is manifested in the esophagus as mild to severe chest pain, pretty much mimicking the pain of a heart attack.

It’s to be noted that the lining of the esophagus is far weaker than the stomach. So it’s always best to understand both acid reflux and GERD symptoms and visit the doctor before things begin to escalate.