Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Knowing the discomfort Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and/or acid reflux can cause, Cheyenne Regional strives to match you with the right treatment option for your particular needs and symptoms.

What happens if you don’t treat acid reflux or GERD?

Acid reflux, or GERD, can be debilitating and can cause daily pain, poor sleep, food intolerance, and limitations on daily activities. It affects around 60 million Americans every month, and nearly 25 million people every day.

When left untreated, GERD (or acid reflux) can lead to complications, including:

• Adult onset asthma
• Barrett’s Esophagus (pre-cancerous changes to the esophagus)
• Esophagitis (inflammation, irritation, or swelling of the esophagus)
• Regurgitation of acid into the lungs
• Sinusitis
• Stricture (narrowing of the esophagus)
• Ulcerations/bleeding

What causes GERD or acid reflux?

Reflux is caused by a weak muscle in your esophagus called the Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES). The LES is your body’s Reflux Barrier.

Normally, your Reflux Barrier acts like a one-way valve, allowing food and liquid to pass into the stomach, but preventing stomach contents from flowing back into the esophagus. In people with reflux, the Reflux Barrier allows harmful acid and bile to flow back into the esophagus, often causing injury to the lining of the esophagus and symptoms such as heartburn, chest pain, regurgitation, sore throat, and cough.

Schedule a GERD consultation

If you think you may be suffering from GERD, please call (307) 632-1114 or fill out the form below to schedule a consultation with Cheyenne Regional today.