If you experience heartburn more than two or three times per week and find that nothing seems to help the pain, your condition may be more serious. Chronic heartburn can be a symptom of GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Among chronic heartburn sufferers, some 1.66 million of them have GERD.

Stomach acid is very strong. Normally, stomach acid is contained in the stomach by the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES is the barrier between the stomach and the esophagus. GERD occurs when the LES is faulty, allowing stomach acid to flow up or reflux and irritate the esophagus frequently.

Living with GERD can lower the quality of your life. One study showed that:¹

• People who live with untreated GERD have a quality of life that is similar to people who have had a heart attack.
• People who suffer from GERD have a lower quality of life than people with diabetes, cancer, or other severe diseases.
• Nighttime acid reflux can keep you awake and diminish the quality of your sleep.

GERD is an expensive disease:¹

• The direct and indirect costs of GERD add up to almost $10 billion annually.
• 63 percent of the cost of GERD is due to medications.

Only your physician can diagnose GERD accurately, but most of the symptoms of GERD are clearly identifiable:

• Chronic heartburn
• Belching
• Chronic sore throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Hoarseness
• Sour taste
• Bad breath
• Inflammation of the gums
• Erosion of tooth enamel