What it means
Fluid moving the wrong way. Most often it means stomach acid rising into the esophagusih-SOF-uh-gusThe muscular tube that carries food and liquid from the throat to the stomach.esophag/o esophagusFull entry when the lower esophageal sphincterSFINGK-terA ring of muscle that tightens to close an opening or passage in the body and relaxes to open it.Full entry does not close well; frequent reflux is gastroesophageal reflux diseasegas-troh-ih-sof-uh-JEE-ul REE-fluks dih-ZEEZA long-term condition in which stomach contents, including acid, flow back up into the esophagus.gastr/o stomachesophag/o esophagus-al relating toFull entry . Babies often spit up from mild reflux. Vesicoureteral reflux is urine flowing back from the bladder toward the kidneys.
For the nurse
Teach small meals, staying upright for 2 to 3 hours after eating, raising the head of the bed, and avoiding late meals, alcohol, smoking and foods that trigger symptoms.
At a glance
| Spanish | reflujo |
|---|---|
| Also written | refluxing |
Related terms
esophagus
The muscular tube that carries food and liquid from the throat to the stomach.
gastroesophageal reflux disease
A long-term condition in which stomach contents, including acid, flow back up into the esophagus.
sphincter
A ring of muscle that tightens to close an opening or passage in the body and relaxes to open it.