Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and its management

G ASTRO-OESOPHAGEAL reflux disease (GORD) is a term often used interchangeably with dyspepsia, which is one of its features. Dyspepsia (“bad digestion”) represents a complex of symptoms. There is no universally accepted definition but a working party in 1988 referred to any symptoms of the upper gastrointestinal tract that are present over at least four weeks, including upper abdominal pain, heartburn, acid reflux, nausea and vomiting. If this broad definition is used, dyspepsia occurs in 40 per cent of the population annually and is responsible for Author Gareth Nickless will be available to answer questions online on the topic of this CPD article until 24 December 2009 Identify knowledge gaps