In the depths where food and acid dance,
The esophagus, a narrow lance,
A gateway twixt the mouth and gut,
Yet troubled waters churn and glut.
GERD, a name for woes untold,
Where acid streams, uncontrolled,
Rise against the sphincter's guard,
Heartburn's flames, harsh and hard.
Like a phoenix from its pyre,
Regurgitation, sour desire,
Bitter tastes upon the tongue,
Echoes of meals now undone.
Dysphagia, a silent plea,
Swallowing becomes a decree,
As chest pains grip with iron hand,
A mimic of a heart's demand.
Chronic coughs, sore throats persist,
The acid's sting, a bitter twist,
Hoarseness steals the voice away,
In acid's wake, it cannot stay.
Causes myriad, varied, wide,
Hiatal hernias seek to hide,
Within the chest, a stomach's guest,
A space where troubles find their nest.
The LES, weakened, now betrayed,
By factors varied, undisplayed,
Obesity, pregnancy's hold,
Or habits smoking, stark and bold.
Gastroparesis, stomach's bane,
Delays the emptying, in vain,
Connective tissues, weakened so,
Allow the reflux's bitter flow.
Yet treatments offer some reprieve,
From GERD's grasp, a chance to leave,
Lifestyle changes pave the way,
To brighter, less acidic days.
Avoid the triggers, watch the meal,
Quit smoking's lure, the lungs to heal,
Weight managed, a healthy stance,
In GERD's fight, a fighting chance.
Antacids soothe the fiery burn,
PPIs and blockers turn,
The tide of acid's harsh assault,
Alleviating pain's fierce vault.
In surgery's hands, a final plea,
To mend the sphincter, set it free,
From hiatal hernias' grasp,
To close the door on reflux's rasp.
Long-term care, a steadfast guide,
To stem the tide, to turn the tide,
For complications loom ahead,
In GERD's wake, where pain is fed.
Barrett's esophagus, a shadow cast,
A precancerous threat, held fast,
Inflammation, ulcers, strictures bare,
The toll of GERD's unyielding snare.
Seek ye help, if symptoms show,
A healthcare pro, the way to go,
For GERD's grasp, though fierce and grim,
Can yield to care, its light within.
