Here you will find a list of words and explanations that your doctor or pharmacist may use when talking to you about heartburn or acid reflux.

Acid Reflux

A condition caused by backflow of stomach contents into the oesophagus (gullet). Acid reflux frequently happens when the lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS), a gate between the stomach and the oesophagus, relaxes more often than it should and/or at inappropriate times. This allows stomach contents to flow back up into the oesophagus.

Acid Suppressors

Medicines that suppress the production of acid in the stomach. These medicines are commonly used for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), as well as for other conditions (such as ulcer) that involve stomach acid. Proton pump inhibitors and H2-receptor antagonists are types of acid suppressors.

Ambulatory pH Monitoring

A specialist procedure that a healthcare professional can use to confirm acid reflux disease over a period of time. The test monitors when symptoms occur most frequently and whether symptoms are caused by excess acid levels. This test is carried out at specialist hospitals.

Antacids

Drugs commonly used for indigestion and heartburn. Antacids work by neutralising acid in the stomach. They generally are not recommended to treat the frequent heartburn that GORD sufferers experience.

Barium Swallow X-Ray

A procedure that lets the healthcare professional see how your digestive system is functioning.

Barrett's Oesophagus

A condition caused by long-term exposure of the oesophagus (gullet) to acid which can cause a change in the nature of the lining of the wall of the oesophagus.

Chronic

Lasting for a long time - that is, 6 months or longer.

Diagnostic Test

A test, such as an X-ray, that helps the healthcare professional understand your condition and how well your treatment is working. Diagnostic tests for acid reflux disease can include barium swallow, X-ray, endoscopy, ambulatory pH monitoring and oesophageal manometry.

Digestive System

A group of organs - including the mouth, throat, oesophagus (gullet), stomach, intestines- that break down food into a suitable form for absorption by the body.

Duodenal Ulcer

A crater in the lining of the first part of the small intestine (duodenum), usually caused by the action of strong acid and digestive juices from the stomach. Characteristic symptoms are localised stomach pain or discomfort, which tends to be relieved by food or antacids.

Duodenitis

This condition is inflammation of the lining of the first part of the duodenum.

Dyspepsia

A general term used to describe discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen (the central area between your naval and your breast bone).

Dysphagia

The term which describes difficulty in swallowing.

Endoscopy

A procedure which allows your healthcare professional to examine your stomach, oesophagus or duodenum by direct viewing with a fibre-optic camera. The healthcare professional can then make an appropriate diagnosis of your condition.

Gastric Erosions

These are erosions in the stomach, caused by superficial damage to the gastric mucosa (lining), not as deep as an ulcer.

Gastric Ulcer

A local defect in the mucous membrane lining of the stomach as a result of a loss of mucosa and other protection against the action of acid and digestive enzymes.

Gastritis

The term which describes inflammation of the stomach from any cause.

Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease

This condition results from a failure of the barrier function between the stomach and the oesophagus which allows reflux of gastric (stomach) or duodenal gastric contents. Classic symptoms are heartburn, acid regurgitation, waterbrash (a high level of salivation resulting from stomach acid irritating the lower oesophagus) and belching.

GORD

The abbreviation for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, also known as acid reflux disease.

H2-receptor Antagonist

A type of acid suppressor. These medicines prevent a substance called histamine from stimulating acid production.

Heartburn

This is the most common symptom of acid reflux disease (also known as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, or GORD). Heartburn is a burning feeling rising from the stomach or lower chest up towards the neck. It is caused by acid from the stomach backing up into the oesophagus. Normally, a 'gate' (the lower oesophageal sphincter) opens when you swallow and closes when food passes. In patients with acid reflux disease, heartburn usually gets worse after they eat, or when they lie down or bend over.

Helicobacter pylori

A type of spiral shaped bacterium (germ) found in the stomach and the duodenum in a high proportion of people with peptic ulcer (duodenal ulcer, gastric ulcer).

Hiatus Hernia

The term which describes abnormal mobility of the stomach allowing the junction with the gullet to pass through the opening in the diaphragm into the chest cavity. As a result, the mechanism normally preventing regurgitation of stomach contents into the oesophagus fails, and acid moves up the oesophagus damaging the lining (reflux oesophagitis) and causing burning pain. The hernia may resolve spontaneously and is often present without abnormal acid reflux.

Lower Oesophageal Sphincter (LOS)

The 'gate' between the stomach and the oesophagus. When the LOS does not stay closed after food has passed through, acid and stomach contents may reflux into the oesophagus.

Non-ulcer Dyspepsia

The term which describes dyspepsia symptoms which have no identifiable cause on investigation.

Odynophagia

The term which describes pain in the throat or chest on swallowing food, alcohol or hot and cold drinks.

Oesophageal Manometry

A special procedure used in a few patients with GORD to measure the pressure in the oesophagus (gullet).

Oesophageal Stricture

The term which describes narrowing of the oesophagus (gullet) which can occur as a result of inflammation, secondary to acid reflux and/or deposition of fibrous (thick) tissue.

Oesophageal Varices

These are varicose veins occurring at the lower end of the oesophagus (gullet) specifically found in individuals with conditions such as cirrhosis of the liver (a chronic degenerative disease).

Oesophagitis

This describes a complication of acid reflux disease. Inflammation of the lining of the oesophagus (gullet) results when the oesophagus is exposed to stomach acid over a long period of time.

Oesophagus (Gullet)

This is the muscular tube that carries food from your throat to your stomach.

Over-The-Counter (OTC) Medicines

Medicines that can be bought without a health care professional's prescription.

Peptic Ulcer

This describes a region of the stomach or duodenum where the protective layer has been damaged by stomach acid and digestive enzymes to expose the underlying layers of muscle.

Promotility Agents

Medicines that speed the transit of the gut contents through the upper digestive tract. These medicines can be used to keep stomach acid from staying in the stomach too long, giving it less time to reflux into the oesophagus. These medicines were used to relieve patient symptoms but are less often used today.

Proton Pump Inhibitors

Also known as acid pump inhibitors, these medicines work by preventing acid pumps in the stomach from producing too much acid.

Pyloric Stenosis

This describes a narrowing of the muscular outlet from the stomach so that the passage of food into the duodenum is obstructed.

Reflux Oesophagitis

This condition is inflammation of the oesophagus (the damage may result from GORD). It is usually diagnosed by an endoscopy. It may be silent or accompanied by heartburn, pain on swallowing (odynophagia) or dysphagia.

Ulcerative Oesophagitis

This condition is inflammation and ulceration of the mucosa and underlying tissues of the oesophagus which may result from injury or irritation by a rough or sharp foreign body, corrosive substances (strong acids and alkalis), retained food that undergoes decomposition, or regurgitated gastric juice.