A Brief History of Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common disorders managed by primary health-care physicians, gastroenterologists, and otolaryngologists today. Esophageal reflux, which was originally thought to be cardiac in nature in the fifteenth century, is now a well-recognized entity, with a thoroughly documented cellular and pathophysiological basis. Extra-esophageal symptoms of reflux involving the larynx, pharynx, and lower airways have more recently been described. The purpose of this chapter is to describe advances in the concept of reflux disease over the last several millennia, as new discoveries propelled the understanding of the disease to include the current definitions of today.