3.Suppressing stomach acid

It is commonly thought that acid is the main trigger for GERD symptoms. For this reason, tremendous effort has been put into developing anti-acid drugs. From anti-acids to H2 blockers (famotidine and cimetidine) to PPIs (omeprazole, lansoprazole, esomeprazole, pantoprazole, dexlansoprazole, and rabeprazole), it has been a multibillion industry that keeps growing year after year. Based on numerous studies, it is true that taking these drugs improves GERD symptoms effectively [23–25]. However, improving is not curing. The reduction of acid secretion is simply not enough to stop GERD completely. Increasing evidence suggests that acid reflux may contribute to esophageal erosion but does not lead to malignancy; it is the bile reflux that induces the development of Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma [26–31].

*Introductory Chapter: Do We Really Know GERD? DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.106602*
