Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Overview

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occurs when stomach acid, and sometimes bile, backs up (refluxes) into the esophagus, the tube that connects your mouth and stomach. Over time, the backwash of acid can irritate and inflame the lining of the esophagus.

Why choose Mayo Clinic

• Experience. Each year, Mayo Clinic doctors diagnose and treat more than 28,000 adults and children who have gastroesophageal reflux disease. Mayo Clinic specialists are skilled in distinguishing GERD from other disorders that may cause similar symptoms.
• Team approach. Specialists in digestive diseases, throat diseases and surgery work together to solve your problem.
• Comprehensive options. Virtually every test and treatment for GERD is available in one convenient location. If surgery is needed, Mayo Clinic doctors perform hundreds of anti-reflux surgeries each year.
• Children's care. Mayo Clinic pediatric specialists are expert at distinguishing GERD from other illnesses and from normal reflux that occurs in the first year of life.
• Efficiency. Diagnosing your problem and recommending a treatment can usually be accomplished in just a few days.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., ranks No. 1 for digestive disorders in the U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals rankings. Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., are ranked high performing for digestive disorders by U.S. News & World Report.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

Why Choose Mayo Clinic
What Sets Mayo Clinic Apart

Read more about gastroesophageal reflux disease.