Is It Heartburn or GERD?
November 21, 2023
For those having heartburn that just won't go away, it actually be gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.
According to Jon E. Simon, M.D., a primary care physician with Mercy Personal Physicians at Hunt Valley, GERD is a chronic condition that can be really painful. With GERD, the lower esophageal sphincter that's supposed to keep food down is working incorrectly. It can be a normal part of pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, for moms-to-be.
"There are two things that happen, one is there is an increase in stomach acid production, and also baby takes up more room, so the stomach is more likely to empty in the wrong direction towards the esophagus than in the right direction," Dr. Simon said.
Risk factors for GERD include smoking, being overweight, eating acidic food and caffeine.
View Mercy primary care physician Dr. Jon Simon's interview about heartburn and GERD.
About Mercy
Founded in 1874 in Downtown Baltimore by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Medical Center is a 183-licensed bed, acute care, university-affiliated teaching hospital. Mercy has been recognized as a high-performing Maryland hospital (U.S. News & World Report); has achieved an overall 5-Star quality, safety, and patient experience rating (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services); is A-rated for Hospital Safety (Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade); and is certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Magnet™ hospital. Mercy Health Services is a not-for-profit health system and the parent company of Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Personal Physicians.
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