Glossary of Terms

General Glossary

Achalasia: A disorder of esophageal function leading to difficulty swallowing.

Barrett's Esophagus: Peptic ulcer of the esophagus that results from prolonged heartburn, causing the lining of the esophagus to be converted into tissue similar to that which lines the stomach.

Dysphagia: The inability of food or liquids to pass easily from the mouth, into the throat, or from the esophagus into the stomach during swallowing.

Endoscopy: A procedure in which an endoscope, an instrument which enables the viewing of internal organs, is inserted into the gastrointestinal tract through the mouth.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EE): An allergic inflammatory disease in which eosinophils (white blood cells) are increased in the esophagus.

Esophagus: Muscular tube that transports food from the pharynx to the stomach. Both ends are closed off by sphincters (muscular constrictions) that relax to let food through and close to keep food from backing up.

Gastroenterology: Internal medicine specialty devoted to the diseases and disorders of the digestive system.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): The condition in which stomach contents move backwards into the esophagus. It cause heartburn, and, sometimes, chest pain, palpitations, hoarseness, sore throats, and dental problems

Heartburn: The sensation of burning behind the breast bone (sternum), associated usually with reflux (regurgitation) of stomach and/or intestine contents into the esophagus.

Hiatus Hernia: The result of upward displacement of the stomach through an opening in the diaphragm; may be associated with chest pain or heartburn.

High-Grade Dysplasia associated with Barrett's Esophagus: Condition that results from prolonged acid reflux (heartburn) that causes the lining of the esophagus to be converted into tissue similar to that which lines the stomach. This transformation makes the esophageal tissue more susceptible to cancer.

Indigestion: Also known as dyspepsia, indigestion is a term used to describe one or more symptoms including a feeling of fullness during a meal, uncomfortable fullness after a meal, and burning or pain in the upper abdomen.

Mucosa: Thin sheets of tissue that cover or line various parts of the body such as the mouth or digestive tract.

Nissen Fundoplication: (NIH-sun FUN-doh-plih-KAY-shun): An operation to sew the top of the stomach (fundus) around the esophagus. Used to stop stomach contents from flowing back into the esophagus (reflux) and to repair a hiatal hernia.

Pharynx: The hollow tube that starts behind the nose and ends at the top of the trachea (windpipe) and esophagus.

Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI): Proton Pump Inhibitors reduce the production of acid by blocking the enzyme in the wall of the stomach that produces acid. The reduction of acid prevents ulcers and allows any ulcers that exist in the esophagus, stomach and duodenum to heal.

Sigmoidoscopy, Colonoscopy, Ileoscopy: Procedures in which an endoscope is inserted through the rectum to view the intestines.

Your health care provider may recommend over-the-counter antacids or medications that stop acid production or help the muscles that empty your stomach to work more efficiently. You can buy many of these medications without a prescription. However, see your health care provider before starting or adding a medication.

• Antacids, such as Alka-Seltzer, Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids, and Riopan, are usually the first drugs recommended to relieve heartburn and other mild GERD symptoms. Many brands on the market use different combinations of three basic salts—magnesium, calcium, and aluminum—with hydroxide or bicarbonate ions to neutralize the acid in your stomach. Antacids, however, can have side effects. Magnesium salt can lead to diarrhea, and aluminum salt may cause constipation. Aluminum and magnesium salts are often combined in a single product to balance these effects.
• Calcium carbonate antacids, such as Tums, Titralac, and Alka-2, can also be a supplemental source of calcium. They can cause constipation as well.
• Foaming agents, such as Gaviscon, work by covering your stomach contents with foam to prevent reflux.
• H2 blockers, such as cimetidine (Tagamet HB), famotidine (Pepcid AC), nizatidine (Axid AR), and ranitidine (Zantac 75), decrease acid production. They are available in prescription strength and over-the-counter strength. These drugs provide short-term relief and are effective for about half of those who have GERD symptoms.
• Proton pump inhibitors include omeprazole (Prilosec, Zegerid), lansoprazole (Prevacid), pantoprazole (Protonix), rabeprazole (Aciphex), and esomeprazole (Nexium), which are available by prescription. Prilosec is also available in over-the-counter strength. Proton pump inhibitors are more effective than H2 blockers and can relieve symptoms and heal the esophageal lining in almost everyone who has GERD.
• Prokinetics help strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and make the stomach empty faster. This group includes bethanechol (Urecholine) and metoclopramide (Reglan). Metoclopramide also improves muscle action in the digestive tract. Prokinetics have frequent side effects that limit their usefulness—fatigue, sleepiness, depression, anxiety, and problems with physical movement.

Because drugs work in different ways, combinations of medications are often used to control symptoms. For example, people who get heartburn after eating may take both antacids and H2 blockers. The antacids work first to neutralize the acid in the stomach, and then the H2 blockers act on acid production. By the time the antacid stops working, the H2 blocker will have stopped acid production.

Your health care provider is the best source of information about how to use medications for GERD.

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