GORD produces a characteristic set of symptoms, though significant oesophagitis can be present without symptoms. Usually occurring within an hour or so of a meal it can be made worse by lying down. Heartburn can wake the patient at night, and is most frequent in those with the most severe disease. Heartburn occurs occasionally in many people after a fatty or spicy meal, but in GORD the symptoms occur frequently after any sort of meal. Alcohol and coffee also induce symptoms.
Antacids relieve symptoms.
The lining of the oesophagus is ill-equipped to resist stomach acids. The result of refluxed stomach acid is to damage the lining of the oesophagus. This damage can be microscopic, but is often macroscopic and seen on endoscopy. Endoscopic oesophageal damage is graded on a scale of 1-4 with increasing severity of damage. Grade 0 is given to normal oesophagus with no macroscopic damage.