Acid Reflux | GERD | Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment

Posted on October 27, 2025 by Jose Amoros

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease abbreviated as GAD, is a chronic condition characterized by the backward flow of stomach acid into the esophagus, leading to various symptoms and potential complications. Symptoms include Heartburn, which is a burning sensation behind the breastbone, especially after meals or when lying down. Regurgitation which is the Involuntary return of stomach contents, causing a sour taste and fluid sensation moving up the chest. Difficulty swallowing due to esophageal inflammation and narrowing. Chest pain similar to a heart attack; prompt evaluation is needed.

Persistent cough triggered by stomach acid irritating the airways. Inflammation of vocal cords leading to hoarseness or chronic laryngitis. Worsening respiratory symptoms in individuals with asthma due to acid entering the airways. Nighttime symptoms like coughing or difficulty breathing that disrupt sleep. Several factors contribute to the development of GAD including Lower Esophageal Sphincter Dysfunction.

The Lower Esophageal Sphincter, a muscular ring separating the esophagus and stomach, may weaken, allowing acid reflux. Hiatal Hernia which is Stomach protrusion into the chest through the diaphragm can compromise the LOWER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER, causing acid reflux. Gastroparesis, or slowing stomach emptying, increases stomach pressure and promotes acid reflux. Excess body weight, especially around the abdomen, can press on the stomach, causing acid reflux. Hormonal changes and uterus growth during pregnancy can induce Lower Esophageal Sphincter relaxation, leading to acid reflux.

Smoking can relax the Lower Esophageal Sphincter worsening GAD. Certain foods such as citrus, tomatoes, chocolate and beverages like caffeine, and spicy, fatty foods can trigger or worsen GAD symptoms. Reclining after meals increases the risk of stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus. Connective Tissue Disorders like scleroderma can impact lower esophageal Lower Esophageal Sphincter muscles, increasing the risk of acid reflux. Some medications, including antihypertensives and sedatives, may relax the LOWER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER or irritate the esophagus, contributing to GAD.

Diagnosis of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Diagnosing GAD involves a combination of patient history, symptom evaluation, and medical tests. Initial step involves gathering detailed information about symptoms, lifestyle, diet, and medications. Crucial assessment of frequency and duration of hallmark symptoms like heartburn and regurgitation. Physical Examination to Assess overall health, focusing on signs or symptoms that may indicate GAD complications. Empirical Trial of Acid-Suppressive Therapy which is a Short-term use of acid-suppressive medications to gauge symptom response.

Endoscopy that Involves inserting a flexible tube with a camera to directly visualize the esophagus for inflammation, erosions, or complications. Esophageal pH Monitoring to Measure acidity levels over 24 to 48 hours, aiding in identifying acid exposure frequency. Esophageal Manometry to assess lower esophageal sphincter and  esophageal motility to identify abnormalities. Barium Swallow Radiography that involves Ingesting contrast material followed by X-rays to reveal structural abnormalities like hiatal hernias. Impedance Monitoring to Measures esophageal movement of liquids and gases to identify non-acid reflux episodes.

Blood tests to rule out other conditions, assessing markers for inflammation or esophageal damage. Managing GAD involves a combination of lifestyle modifications, medications, and, in some cases, surgical interventions. Lifestyle Modifications include Dietary Changes. Avoid trigger foods like citrus, tomatoes, chocolate, caffeine, and fatty foods. opt for smaller, more frequent meals to prevent stomach distension.

Lose excess weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise to reduce abdominal pressure. Antacids to Provide quick relief by neutralizing stomach acid, but are short-acting. H2 Blockers to Reduce acid production for longer relief like ranitidine and famotidine. Proton Pump Inhibitors to Block stomach proton pump for decreased acid production like omeprazole and esomeprazole. Prokinetic Agents to Enhance digestive tract motility and promote stomach emptying like metoclopramide.

Combine antacids with alginate to form a protective stomach barrier, reducing reflux symptoms. Surgical Interventions like Fundoplication.

This is done to Wrap the top of the stomach around the esophagus to prevent acid reflux. LINX Device that involves Implanting a ring of magnetic beads around the esophagus to prevent acid flow. Endoscopic Treatments including Stretta and Transoral incisionless fundoplication.

This  Tightens the lower esophageal sphincter through minimally invasive endoscopic procedures. Complications of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Untreated GAD can lead to serious complications including Esophagitis which is an Inflammation of the esophagus due to chronic exposure to stomach acid, causing pain and potential ulcer formation. Barrett’s Esophagus which results from Long-term inflammation that leads to changes in the lower esophageal lining, increasing the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. Chronic inflammation causes scar tissue, narrowing the esophagus and resulting in swallowing difficulties. GAD contributes to respiratory issues like asthma exacerbations, chronic cough, and pneumonia due to stomach content aspiration.

Regurgitation of stomach acid can lead to dental issues, including enamel erosion, cavities, and gum disease. Barrett’s esophagus elevates the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma, emphasizing the need for regular monitoring. Several strategies can help prevent or manage GAD. Maintain a Healthy Weight. Obesity is a significant risk factor for GAD.

Dietary Changes. Identify and avoid trigger foods, such as citrus, tomatoes, and spicy foods. Quit Smoking.

Tobacco weakens the LOWER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER and exacerbates reflux. Limit Alcohol Intake.

Excessive alcohol consumption can relax  the LOWER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER. Eat Small, Frequent Meals. Reduce  pressure on the LOWER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER by avoiding large meals. In conclusion, GAD is a chronic condition that requires a multi-faceted approach for management, including lifestyle changes, medications, and, in some cases, surgical intervention. If you found this video helpful, don’t forget to give it a thumbs up, share it with others, and subscribe for more informative content on health and wellness.

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How to Read and Understand a Balance Sheet

Posted on October 27, 2025 by Jose Amoros

When it comes to understanding a business, few financial statements are more important than the balance sheet. It offers critical insight into a company’s financial health. It can be used by investors when deciding whether to provide funding, executives when crafting strategy, and employees when working toward organizational goals. The balance sheet is often organized according to the accounting equation, assets equals liabilities plus owner’s equity. While this is the most common formula, you may encounter variations of it.

No matter how the balance sheet is organized, it should always balance. Assets should always equal liabilities plus owner’s equity. Owner’s equity should always equal assets minus liabilities. Liabilities should always equal assets minus owner’s equity. If it doesn’t balance, it was likely prepared incorrectly.

Here’s a closer look at the balance sheet’s key components. An asset is anything a company owns that holds inherent, quantifiable value. Assets are typically tallied as positives and broken down into current and non-current assets. Current assets are anything a company expects to be converted into cash within a year, such as inventory, accounts receivable, and cash and cash equivalents. Non-current assets include long term investments not expected to be converted into cash in the short term, such as patents, goodwill, and buildings and land.

A liability is the opposite of an asset. While an asset is something a company owns, a liability is something it owes. Liabilities are financial and legal obligations to pay a debtor, which is why they’re typically tallied as negatives. Like assets, liabilities are categorized as current or non-current. Current liabilities are due to a debtor within one year, including payroll expenses, rent and utility payments, and accounts payable.

Non-current liabilities are longer term obligations, including provisions for pensions, leases, and deferred tax liabilities. Lastly, owner’s equity also known as shareholders’ equity, is anything belonging to the owners of a business after liabilities are accounted for. If you add up all the resources a business owns, its assets, and subtract all third party claims, its liabilities, the residual leftover is owner’s equity. Owner’s equity includes two key elements. The first is money, which is contributed to a business as an investment in exchange for a degree of ownership, typically represented by shares.

The second is earnings a company generates over time and retains. To see these components in context, here’s a balance sheet for a fictional company. It tells you the reporting period ended on November 30, 2020, and compares against a similar reporting period from the previous year.

It also tells you the company’s assets totaled $60,173, including $37,232 in current assets, and $22,941 in non-current assets. The company’s liabilities totaled $16,338, including $14,010 in current liabilities and $2,328 in non-current liabilities.

It retained $45,528 in earnings during the reporting period. Slightly more than it did a year prior. So how can business professionals use this information? While the balance sheet serves different purposes, depending on who reviews it, when reviewed internally, it gives insight into whether a company is succeeding or failing. Stakeholders can use that knowledge to double down on successes, correct failures, or pivot toward new opportunities.

When reviewed externally, it conveys what resources are available to a business and how they’re financed, which helps investors decide whether it’s wise to support it financially. External auditors can also use the balance sheet to ensure a company complies with the reporting laws it’s subject to. It’s important to remember the balance sheet is always based on past data and communicates information as of a specific date. While you can use it to predict performance, past results don’t guarantee what will happen in the future. If you want to learn accounting concepts and principles that illuminate financial statements, explore our online course, financial accounting, and discover how you can unlock critical insights into business performance and potential.

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Capital Gains Taxes Explained: Short-Term Capital Gains vs. Long-Term Capital Gains

Posted on October 27, 2025 by Jose Amoros

One of the main ways to profit from investing is to buy assets at one price and then sell them at a higher price. These types of profits are known as capital gains. As with most kinds of profits, they’re subject to taxes. Taxes can impact the growth of your portfolio, so it’s important to understand how capital gains taxes work and learn some strategies to potentially minimize them. Let me note up front that in this video we’re just covering the basics.

Taxes can be complex and vary based on a lot of factors, so it’s always best to consult the IRS or a tax professional to understand your specific situation. We’ll start with a simple example.

Let’s say you’re an average investor and have a regular taxable brokerage account. You buy a share of stock XYZ for $50, and over the course of a year, it increases to $60. At this point, you’ve gained $10, but it’s an unrealized gain, because you don’t actually profit until your position is closed.

No matter how long you hold the stock or how much its price changes, you won’t be taxed on gains as long as you don’t close the position and gains remain unrealized. Note that other types of income from stocks, like dividends, may still be subject to taxes, but these may not be considered capital gains. Now, back to our example. Let’s say you decide to sell the stock at $60. That is considered a realized capital gain and is a taxable event.

You now owe taxes on the $10 profit. We’re focusing on stocks in this video, but be aware that capital gains taxes also apply to other types of investments like real estate, bonds, and mutual funds. So, how much are capital gains taxed? It mainly depends on two factors: how long you held the investment and your income level. There are two types of capital gains: short term and long term.

Proceeds from investments you sell after holding for a year or less are generally classified as short-term capital gains. They’re typically taxed at the same rate as your ordinary income, which is determined by the marginal tax bracket you fall into. Capital gains are stacked on top of your ordinary income. So, let’s say you earned $82,000 in wages. Any capital gains would be added to the top of that for tax purposes.

So, if you saw $12,000 in short-term capital gains, it would count as part of your highest tax bracket. Capital gains could push you into a higher tax bracket if it pushes your income above the bracket limit. For reference, marginal income tax rates for the 2020 tax year ranged from 10% to 37%, but rates can change over time, so it’s best to check with the IRS for specifics.

Proceeds from investments held for more than a year are typically classified as long-term capital gains. For stocks, the long-term capital gains tax rates are generally much lower than the ordinary income tax rates.

As of 2020, the long-term capital gains tax rates were 0%, 15%, and 20%, depending on your income level. The specific rate may still vary based on your income, but rates can change over time, so it’s best to check with the IRS or a tax professional. Also, if your income is over a certain limit, gains from your investments could also be subject to the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax. In most cases, you report capital gains for the year as part of your annual tax return, which could increase your tax liability when you file.

If you realized any gains, it may be a good idea to have money set aside in case you have to pay, or, depending on your circumstances, plan to make estimated tax payments throughout the year.

Because taxes can significantly impact the performance of your portfolio, it’s important to be proactive in tax planning. Here are a few strategies you can follow. First, weigh the pros and cons of short-term investments versus long-term investments. Active investors may attempt to increase returns by quickly buying and selling investments.

But when considering trading strategies, don’t forget to factor in the tax implications. Capital gains taxes can take a big bite out of any profits. Because of increased taxes and fees, it’s difficult for most people to outperform a well-diversified portfolio of long-term investments that are often taxed at the lower long-term capital gains rate. When planning your investment strategy, consider how the investment holding period can affect your tax bill.

Second, consider maximizing

g your tax-advantaged accounts, like retirement and education accounts.
Depending on the type of account, you may be able to buy and sell investments without being subject to capital gains taxes. Reducing your tax burden could potentially help your portfolio grow faster. Third, in taxable accounts, make the most of your losses. Benefiting from losses may seem counterintuitive, but the IRS actually allows you to write off certain trading losses, which can help offset some of your capital gains taxes. For example, tax-loss harvesting is a strategy that involves closing certain positions to intentionally realize losses that reduce your tax liability.

Of course, tax planning and some capital gains calculations can be confusing.

That’s why even seasoned investors enlist the help of tax professionals to make sure their taxes are in order.

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Social Media Calendar Template

Posted on October 23, 2025 by Jose Amoros

A social media calendar makes it easy to plan posts, track tasks and assignments, and collaborate with team members so everyone’s working towards the same goals. To give you a headstart, we created a really simple TeamGantt template you can use to get your social media plan off the ground. A social media schedule is simply a documented plan for when and where you’re going to post content across various social media channels. This helps make sure social media posts don’t get bumped by other marketing priorities or lost in the mix of daily to-dos. With a social media calendar in place, you can push strategies forward, keep up with each day’s posting schedule, and loop your team in on your plan more easily.

A solid social media marketing plan involves much more than writing and scheduling social posts. Follow these simple steps to make sure your posts are most effective. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be everywhere all at once to move the needle. Figure out where your audience hangs out and build your social media calendar around the top channels they actively engage with. Success can look different across social media channels so establish goals for each network and determine which metrics will help you measure and track success.

For example, if Twitter’s your go-to for increasing brand awareness and blog traffic, you might track impressions, clicks, and retweets. Wanna grow influence and community on LinkedIn? Comments and shares might be your metrics for success. Time of day and posting frequency are essential to the success of your overall social media marketing plan. Research popular times to post to each channel and experiment to see which ones perform best with your audience.
If you get awesome engagement at 9:00 AM on Facebook, be sure to take advantage of those extra eyeballs when slotting future posts. Give each channel some love frequently, but don’t overdo it. A rule of thumb for an effective social media plan is that each channel should feature one to two posts per day.

If Twitter’s an important channel in your social media strategy, you’ll need to up the frequency just a bit. Shoot for a maximum of 15 tweets a day with about half of those being retweets.
Think about where your expertise intersects with your audience and build a content plan that’s aimed at easing their biggest pain points. Creating a repository of evergreen content will make sure you always have something valuable to share as your audience grows.

Start with types of content that have performed well in the past, but be sure to experiment until you find the right mix for your audience. Remember social media’s super visual, so include image and video resources in your content plan too. Now that you generally know what you winna post and where, drop each post into your schedule.

We recommend doing this a month at a time to account for shifting priorities. Consider a social media management platform for auto publishing your post to each channel. That way you can schedule posts in advance without stressing about being available to publish every single post on the spot. Once you get your social media schedule off the ground, your job’s not done. Come back to your social media plan every so often and take an honest look at the state of your accounts.

A few questions to consider as you evaluate your social media performance are what are you doing well and what are you not? Which content has performed best? How often are you posting and at what times and are there any channels you should consider eliminating? And what about your page bios, are they up to date and on brand? Regularly auditing your social media marketing will enable you to determine when and how you should adjust your plan to continue growing and engaging your audience.

Now, that we’ve talked about how to create and maintain your social media schedule, let’s look at two examples we built in Team Gantt. In this example, social media posts are broken down by day of the week and channel. We use Team Gantt’s checklist feature to capture the details of what’s being promoted when for each social media post on the schedule. Here’s an example of how you might organize social media posts by time of day and content type. In this example, we use checklists to keep up with social media channels for each post.

With Team Gantt’s free social media schedule template, you can save time building, updating, and communicating your marketing plan and see what’s done and what’s to come at a glance.

There’s no right or wrong way to set up your social media calendar in TeamGantt. Here’s how to customize a social media marketing plan that works for you. Break post down by day of the week or social media channel. And remember, converting tasks into subgroups is only a right click away.

Simply hover over the task bar in your Gantt chart and click the color black icon that appears to the right of the task bar to select a new color.

Got a rhythm to your posting schedule? Set up your first week’s social media plan, then right click on the task group name and select Duplicate from the dropdown menu. Once you’ve duplicated a task group, rearranging your social media schedule is as easy as dragging and dropping tasks into their new rightful place. Team Gantt’s checklist feature enables you to streamline your plan by adding to-dos within a task.

That way, you don’t have to create multiple versions of the same post in your calendar just to cover your social media basis. TeamGantt isn’t just for Gantt charts. Transform your well-crafted social media schedule into a calendar instantly with our calendar view. It’s perfect for tracking and managing your social media plan on a day-to-day basis. From there, you can update overall task progress and reschedule dates, add content for your social media post to the note section, comment on tasks and tag team members to notify them of updates, upload and share social media graphics and files, and mark checklist items as complete.

Ready to build a social media calendar of your own? We’ve created a free social media schedule template for you in TeamGantt so you can jump right in. Customizing the templates is quick and easy thanks to TeamGantt’s drag and drop simplicity. And since everything’s online, your whole team can collaborate on social media posts in real time. And that’s it for this video on creating a social media marketing schedule.

I hope you found it helpful. If you did, I’d love it if you could return the favor and hit the Like button. And don’t forget to subscribe to our channel internal notifications so you don’t miss any of our videos. Thanks for watching. Awesome.
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