1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common digestive disorder. GERD occurs when the gastric contents experience retrograde flow to the esophagus causing troublesome symptoms. GERD symptoms can be typical, such as heartburn or regurgitation and atypical symptoms such as bloating, vomiting, or even nocturnal awakening. Although it has significant implications in the community, there are still many myths and misconceptions requiring scientific explanations. One of the famous myths about GERD is its relation to the acute coronary syndrome. Heartburn, the most common symptom of GERD, has no equivalent in many languages. Heartburn, in Indonesian patients, is often considered chest pain and misinterpreted with symptoms of the acute coronary syndrome. There are still many myths and misconceptions about GERD, such as whether GERD is similar to acid reflux, whether GERD is a hereditary disease, whether surgery can be performed on GERD, or something as simple as whether it is necessary to avoid fatty foods in GERD patients. Understanding the facts among these myths and misconceptions is important for clinicians because it affects how we educate, diagnose, and even manage GERD in patients. In this paper, we explain the GERD’s facts and myths based on the latest studies and recommendations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)865-874
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of International Dental and Medical Research
Volume14
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Keywords

  • GERD
  • disease burden
  • facts
  • heartburn
  • myths

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