Are GERD and Heartburn the Same Thing?

GERD and heartburn are oftentimes mistaken for one another. Although the symptoms are very similar and easily mistaken, they are two different things. Heartburn is something that can be experienced on its own, or as a symptom of GERD as well.

The Gut Authority is a wonderful company that can help you to better understand the differences between these two ailments. Many different people have come to us and received great results with our practices.

Definition of GERD

GERD, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, is something that can be very uncomfortable to deal with. It is when the acid in your stomach and the bile is building up and causing your esophagus to be very irritated. There are a number of things that you may be experiencing with GERD, such as:

Burning In Your Chest
Frequent Belching
Heartburn
Feeling Of Being Nauseous
Frequent Throwing Up

Many people may be mistaking these symptoms for normal heartburn. If you are experiencing the symptoms of heartburn and/or acid reflux regularly, it is time to seek help. There is a series of tests and exams that can be done to determine if you have GERD.

Definition of Heartburn

Heartburn is something that many people deal with from their diet. Acidic substances from your stomach are irritating your esophagus. It could be a number of things that are irritating them, such as:

Spicy Food
Acidic Foods
Clothing That is Too Tight
Overeating
Alcohol

Everyone and their bodies are different, and what bothers them will differ from person to person. There are many ways that you can go about finding relief from heartburn, both from over the counter medicine and natural ways as well.

How They Are Confused

As you can see, the definitions of the two are very similar. That is how they are so often mistaken and possible the right decisions to receive relief are not taken. In many ways, they are the same, but GERD is much more serious and should be dealt with accordingly. In much easier terms, GERD is a diagnosis of severe acid reflux that is causing damage to the esophagus, and heartburn is more of a symptom.

Ways To Help Get Relief

If you are wondering if you have GERD, there are several symptoms that you can look for. Heartburn is something that many people can suffer from, but GERD is going to present itself with more symptoms. Some of those extra signs that you may need to seek a professional for help are:

Chest Pain
Throwing Up Acidic Substances
Constant Feeling You Have Something Caught In Your Throat
Trouble Swallowing

There are a few ways that you can go about getting relief from GERD. If you are looking for holistic and natural ways, functional medicine is a great place to start. This type of practice is going to focus more on your diet and nutrition, maybe some supplements, lifestyle changes, and maintaining a healthy weight to help heal your body. Many times our gut needs healing in order to fix numerous amount of symptoms that we could be feeling.

Call The Gut Authority Today

Heartburn or GERD is not fun symptoms to deal with. If you are experiencing either one of these, you should call our office today and see what we can do for you. At The Gut Authority, we take the health of your body very seriously and want to help you find ways to find relief. We provide services to the community and surrounding ones as well, such as Mobile, AL. Naturally and holistically you can make a difference in your well-being.