The term GERD may not ring a bell, but a majority of Americans have experienced it, and Heritage Hospital’s new Heartburn Treatment Center is providing medical attention to people with GERD.

Dr. Mark Petruziello, general surgeon at Heritage, briefed Rotary Club members on the treatment, diagnosis, and definition of GERD, which is Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease also known as chronic heartburn.

Petruziello said about 7 percent or 25 million Americans suffer from heartburn daily.

“Some people get it all day, every day. It can be disabling,” Petruziello said.

The condition is caused by the ring of muscle around the bottom of the esophagus not working properly. Food eaten may not pass into the stomach with the digestive juices and return to the esophagus if that muscle, called the lower esophageal sphincter isn’t working.

Symptoms include chest pain, trouble swallowing, hoarseness, dry cough, bad breath, or even food becoming stuck in the throat easily.

In rare cases, if someone allows the condition to persist without treatment, it can be deadly.

“Reflux can change the lining of the esophagus,” which Petruziello said increases the risk of cancer.

Petruziello discussed three modes of providing a diagnosis including EGD with biopsies, wireless pH testing, and high resolution manometry.

There are two routes a patient can go to relieve GERD including medical treatment, which is the most common, or have it fixed surgically. Petruziello said that surgery normally provides people with an instant relief.

“People automatically notice a difference,” he said.

Both the medication and surgical treatment is about 90 percent effective.

There are things that patients can do without seeking medical treatment to help decrease the severity of GERD.

“Once you have GERD, you don’t grow out of it,” Petruziello said.

“There are things you can do to make it better such as lifestyle changes.”