Q: What are the stages of GORD?
A: Gastro Oesophageal Reflux Disease (GORD) is a condition in which the stomach's contents, including acid, rise up into the oesophagus. GORD has four stages: Oesophagitis, Oesophageal stricture, Barrett's oesophagus, and Oesophageal adenocarcinoma. In the first stage, Oesophagitis, the stomach's acid irritates and damages the lining of the oesophagus, causing inflammation and pain. In the second stage, Oesophageal stricture, the oesophagus narrows due to scarring caused by repeated inflammation. The third stage, Barrett's oesophagus, is a pre-cancerous condition in which the cells of the oesophagus change in response to the acid irritation. Finally, in the fourth stage, Oesophageal adenocarcinoma, cancerous cells form in the oesophagus and can spread to other areas of the body.