Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD; or GORD when spelling œsophageal, the
BrE form) is defined as chronic symptoms or
mucosal damage produced by the abnormal reflux in the
esophagus. This is commonly due to transient or permanent changes in the barrier between the esophagus and the
stomach. This can be due to incompetence of the
lower esophageal sphincter (LES), transient LES relaxation, impaired expulsion of gastric reflux from the esophagus, or a
hiatal hernia.
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