US Medical Term · conditions
GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)
ERGE (Enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico)
Also: Reflujo gastroesofágico (regional variant)
What it means
GERD, or gastroesophageal reflux disease, is a chronic (long-lasting) condition in which stomach contents repeatedly come back up into the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Occasional reflux, called gastroesophageal reflux (GER), is common; a person may have GERD if symptoms happen two or more times a week or damage the lining of the esophagus. GERD can happen when the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus becomes weak or relaxes at the wrong time. The most common symptom is heartburn, a burning feeling in the chest or throat. Chest pain with shortness of breath, or pain in the jaw or arm, can be signs of a heart problem and need medical help right away; in the U.S., call 911.
GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) in Spanish
- Spanish term
- ERGE (Enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico)
- Gender and article
- feminine: la ERGE (la enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico)
- Pronunciation
- EHR-heh (en-fehr-meh-DAHD por rreh-FLOO-hoh gahs-troh-eh-soh-FAH-hee-koh)
| Other Spanish terms | Where it is used | Note |
|---|---|---|
| reflujo gastroesofágico | General | Title of the MedlinePlus en español topic page, whose first heading pairs it with the abbreviation ERGE; the same page also uses reflujo gastroesofágico (RGE) for occasional reflux. |
| acidez crónica | General | Listed under 'Otros nombres' on the MedlinePlus en español topic page. |
ERGE is the abbreviation MedlinePlus en español gives for enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico, and it takes the feminine article: la ERGE. The English abbreviation GERD stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease. MedlinePlus en español titles its topic page Reflujo gastroesofágico and separates two ideas in the text: reflujo gastroesofágico (RGE), the name for acid coming up into the throat on occasion, and enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico (ERGE), the chronic condition.
Words used with the term on those pages include acidez estomacal (heartburn), which the encyclopedia article words as acidez gástrica; esófago (esophagus), which the encyclopedia glosses as tubo de deglución; hernia de hiato (hiatal hernia); antiácidos (antacids); and endoscopia gastrointestinal superior (upper GI endoscopy). The topic page gives acidez crónica under "Otros nombres", and the encyclopedia lists esofagitis por reflujo and acidez gástrica crónica among its alternative names.
Phrases for an appointment
What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:
| Who | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| Patient | I get a burning feeling in my chest after I eat. | Siento ardor en el pecho después de comer. |
| Clinician | How many times a week do you have these symptoms? | ¿Cuántas veces por semana tiene estos síntomas? |
| Patient | Almost every night, and sometimes I taste acid in the back of my mouth. | Casi todas las noches, y a veces siento un sabor ácido en la parte posterior de la boca. |
| Clinician | Do you have trouble swallowing, a dry cough, or a hoarse voice? | ¿Tiene dificultad para tragar, tos seca o voz ronca? |
| Patient | Is this just heartburn, or could it be GERD? | ¿Es solo acidez estomacal, o podría ser ERGE? |
| Clinician | I would like to order an upper GI endoscopy to look at your esophagus. | Quisiera pedirle una endoscopia gastrointestinal superior para observar su esófago. |
| Patient | Are there foods that make GERD worse? | ¿Hay alimentos que empeoren la ERGE? |
| Clinician | If you have chest pain with shortness of breath, call 911 right away. | Si tiene dolor de pecho con dificultad para respirar, llame al 911 de inmediato. |
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) |
| Spanish (Español) | ERGE (Enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico) |
| Chinese (中文) | 胃食道逆流病 |
| Korean (한국어) | 위식도 역류질환 (GERD) |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Bệnh trào ngược dạ dày thực quản (GERD) |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) |
| Portuguese (Português) | DRGE (Doença do refluxo gastroesofágico) |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | โรคกรดไหลย้อน |
| Japanese (日本語) | 胃食道逆流症（GERD） |
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
ICD-10-CM code: K21 → Gastro-esophageal reflux diseaseRelated terms
Your right to an interpreter in the United States
If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.
You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»
More terms: Digestive system
All terms in this area: Digestive system — Sistema digestivo
Sources
- GERD — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Reflujo gastroesofágico — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- Enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico (Enciclopedia médica) — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- Definition & Facts for GER & GERD — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH)
- Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Your Right to Language Assistance Services — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.
Last reviewed: October 8, 2026