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Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects nearly 20 percent of Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Enhance your knowledge of GERD during GERD Awareness Week, taking place from November 24 to 30, 2025.
“GERD is one of the most common reasons people make an appointment with a gastroenterologist,” says Dr. Carolyn Newberry, associate professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine. “Some statistics show up to one in three people in the U.S. have symptoms every week.”
Food and drink pass through the esophagus to reach the stomach. If the stomach’s contents backwash into the esophagus, you experience acid reflux (heartburn or acid indigestion).
Heartburn is a burning, painful sensation in the chest or throat. You may also experience regurgitation, when food comes back up and leaves an acidic taste in your mouth.
Occasional indigestion is usually nothing to worry about. If you experience heartburn two or more times a week, however, it may be GERD. Awareness of the condition and proper treatment is important, since severe or chronic heartburn can cause complications, including:
Heartburn is considered the most common symptom of GERD. One purpose of GERD Awareness Week is to raise awareness of other GERD symptoms that can be very distressing.
“GERD really can affect people’s lives,” says Dr. Felice H. Schnoll-Sussman, director of The Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medicine. “It can affect how you sleep, it can affect your work environment, your school and potentially every meal.”
Additional troublesome symptoms of GERD include:
If you experience occasional reflux, over-the-counter medications, such as antacids, can often provide relief. Not smoking or drinking alcohol, avoiding food triggers and losing weight can also help.
These same approaches can also help manage GERD, but additional treatment is often necessary. Treatment options include the following:
Whether you or someone you love suffers from GERD, GERD Awareness Week is a good opportunity to learn the basics of this common condition.
Feeling the symptoms of GERD? Find a doctor at Weill Cornell Medicine for help managing your condition.
