Symptoms of GERD can be exacerbated by certain trigger foods, but foods themselves are not responsible for the disease.

Your esophagus — the smooth muscular tube through which food travels from your mouth to your stomach — wasn't made to handle the powerful acids that can back up or reflux from the stomach, but that's just what the esophagus is subjected to when the lower esophageal sphincter fails to close properly.

When this "door" between the top of the stomach and the bottom of the esophagus doesn't shut all the way, acid can splash up into the esophagus, causing irritation and inflammation. For many people, GERD is a chronic problem that requires lifestyle changes and medications to control.

It is estimated that as many as 17 million Americans experience GERD symptoms, which may include:

• Heartburn
• Pain in the chest or upper abdomen
• Regurgitation
• Difficulty swallowing
• Chronic sour or bitter taste

All of these symptoms may be worse or more common at night or when lying down or bending over.

In addition to reviewing the symptoms of GERD (see Answer #2), your doctor will ask about smoking, alcohol ingestion, weight loss and family history. If your doctor's evaluation suggests GERD without any other alarming symptoms, then he or she usually will advise lifestyle and dietary changes along with medication. If the symptoms persist, your doctor may order an endoscopy to look directly into the esophagus.

Keeping the esophagus above the stomach prevents stomach acid from draining into the esophagus during sleep. Make sure you raise the entire head of the bed (by using books or a platform underneath the legs of your bed's headboard) and don't merely raise your upper body by propping yourself up with pillows. Bending your waist would increase pressure on your abdomen and stomach and could increase your reflux.

Your doctor may recommend surgery if your symptoms are debilitating and if other medical treatments are not satisfactory, but most people can control GERD by using over-the-counter or prescription medications or by making lifestyle changes, such as elevating the head of the bed, avoiding large meals close to bedtime, avoiding smoking and avoiding the foods that commonly trigger episodes.