Here are some terms you may see on this Web site or hear from your doctor. This guide will help explain what they mean.

Abdominal pain
Pain located in the abdomen, the part of the body that encompasses everything from the upper torso to the pelvis.

Antacid
A type of medication, usually available at the drug store without a prescription, which buffers, neutralizes, or absorbs acid in the stomach.

Diagnostic test
A test that helps health care professionals understand a condition and assess treatment. Diagnostic tests for GERD include barium swallow X ray, endoscopy, ambulatory pH monitoring, and manometry.

Dysphagia
Difficulty swallowing.

Endoscopy
A diagnostic test in which a small, flexible tube with a tiny camera is inserted through the mouth and down into the esophagus and stomach.

Esophageal stricture
Narrowing of the esophagus

Esophagitis
Inflammation of the lining of the esophagus.

Esophagus
The tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach.

GERD
A digestive disorder caused by the acidic contents of the stomach regularly going up into the esophagus during or after a meal. Heartburn is the most common sympton of GERD, but regurgitation, difficulty swallowing, chronic cough, hoarseness, and a feeling of a lump in the throat may be associated symptoms.

H2 receptor antagonist
A type of medication, available with or without a prescription, which reduces the amount of hydrochloric acid in the stomach thus raising the pH of the stomach.

Heartburn
A burning or painful feeling in the middle of the chest caused by acid from the stomach backing up into the esophagus.

Lower esophageal sphincter (LES)
The muscle between the stomach and the esophagus. When the LES does not stay closed after food has passed through, acid and stomach contents may reflux into the esophagus.

Mucous
The slippery fluid that your mouth, esophagus, and intestines make to help food move through more easily.

Odynophagia
When it hurts to swallow.

pH measurement (pHmetry)
A test that tells how much acid comes up from the stomach into the esophagus during a reflux incident.

Proton pump inhibitor
A type of medication, available with or without a prescription, which blocks stomach acid production.

Reflux
The backing up of stomach contents into the esophagus.

Regurgitation
A backflow of swallowed food or drink into the throat or mouth that can cause a sour taste or taste of vomit in the mouth.

Silent reflux
Reflux that causes asthma-like symptoms or chronic, recurrent respiratory symptoms, but not typical symptoms such as heartburn.

Upper esophageal sphincter
The muscle at the upper portion of the esophagus, through which food enters.