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Digestive System Disorder

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For my Anatomy and Physiology final I chose to research a digestive system disorder. I researched different disorders and the most appealing disorder to me was the Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, or most commonly known as GERD as well as Acid Reflux Disease. GERD is a common disorder with more than 10 million Americans who have been diagnosed, including infants. GERD is a reflux disease that is triggered by a weak lower esophageal sphincter. The lower esophageal sphincter, LES, is located between the end of the esophagus and the stomach. A closed lower esophageal sphincter prevents acid and bolus from returning to the esophagus. Those diagnosed with GERD experience a weak lower esophageal sphincter, which can cause bolus and acid to travel up the esophagus, causing a heart burning sensation. Overtime, a continuous exposure to the stomach acid and bolus can cause the esophagus to erode, which may result in bleeding as well as breathing problems. A most common symptom of GERD is heartburn that increases when bending over, stooping, lying down, and eating. Other symptoms that can occur are nausea, hoarseness, laryngitis chronic dry cough, asthma, an increase of saliva, earaches, as well as bad breath. Nausea is experienced when eating either too quickly or eat an excess of food in a short amount of time. If your lower esophagus sphincter, or LES, is too weak, an excess of food can cause a “back up” into the esophagus. The acid reflux can enter the pharynx, the throat,

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