How a GI doctor with GERD handles holiday triggers

(BPT) - The holiday season brings festive meals, rich desserts, late nights and plenty of celebration. It is also a time when many people notice more heartburn or discomfort after eating. While an occasional burning feeling after a heavy holiday meal is common, symptoms that keep coming back may signal something more serious: gastroesophageal reflux disease, known as GERD.

GERD is a chronic condition in which stomach contents flow back into the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Depending on the severity, GERD can lead to persistent heartburn, regurgitation, difficulty eating or drinking and discomfort that affects daily life and sleep.