Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a chronic condition in which stomach contents rise up into the esophagus. Acid reflux can occur at any age and it has many causes. Being obese and overweight, snacking before bedtime and eating large meals before sleeping or lying down, can all cause acid reflux.
A hiatal hernia happens when the upper part of the stomach and the lower esophageal sphincter move above the diaphragm. As the stomach gets trapped into a higher position than its normal position, it becomes easier for stomach acid to flow back up into the esophagus and cause acid reflux.

Anyone can develop GERD at any age, but the risk increases with age. You are more likely to have acid reflux if you are a smoker or a regular exposed to second-hand smoke and in some cases taking certain medications for asthma, high blood pressure and allergies.

Symptoms of acid Reflux Disease

The most common symptoms of GERD in adults are an acidic taste in the mouth heartburn. GERD sometimes causes injury to the esophagus. When ring muscle fails, and stomach contents are regurgitated into the esophagus, the symptoms of acid reflux are felt. A burning sensation in your chest (heartburn), usually after eating, which might be worse at night is a common symptom for acid reflux, in addition to indigestion (discomfort in the upper part of the abdomen), chest pain, difficulty swallowing, and sensation of a lump in your throat. Other symptoms for acid reflux can be bloody or black stools or bloody vomiting, dysphagia, hiccups that don't let up, nausea, weight loss for no known reason, wheezing, dry cough, hoarseness, or chronic sore throat.

Acid reflux treatment in Dubai

Heartburn treatment in Dubai can be achieved by include lifestyle changes, medications and sometimes surgery for those who do not improve with the first two measures. In case acid reflux is caused by hiatal hernia, medications would not be a good solution, since we are treating the symptoms and not the disease. As per Dr. Ali Al Dameh who is an expert in performing surgery for reflux disease, as well as laparoscopic and open hernia repair, hiatal hernia can be treated surgically by repositioning the stomach in its normal place and closing the defect. In some cases, a mesh is placed over the defect to decrease the recurrence rate.