Acid Reflux Symptoms - Knowing More about GERD

Acid reflux is a condition that occurs when the tube used to transport the food to the stomach from the throat is too weak and is not able to handle the acid, thereby producing some acid reflux symptoms. The food taken in is digested with the acid it produces and stores. The walls of the stomach should be strong enough for it to be capable of storing the acid without causing any damage. However, when the acid flows from the stomach into the esophagus, acid reflux occurs with different symptoms. Read on and learn about some of the acid refux symptoms.

Acid Refux Symptoms:

1. Heartburn - this is the main symptom of acid reflux or GERD. Heartburn is a burning sensation that runs up to the chest and the throat from the stomach. According to a certain study, almost 3 quarters of patients frequently experiencing acid reflux symptoms experience heartburn at night. This condition most likely occurs in connection with some activities such as:

• After eating a heavy meal;·
• Lifting;· Bending over;·
• Lying down on the back

2. Dyspepsia – dyspepsia is said to be experienced by 50% of the patients diagnosed with acid reflux. Dyspepsia is related to the following:

• Pain and discomfort particularly in the upper part of the abdomen;
• Nausea after eating;
• Feeling of fullness

It should be noted that dyspepsia may also be experienced by those not diagnosed with GERD.

3. Regurgitation – this condition is described as the feeling of acid backed up in the throat. It is sometimes called "wet burp" when the acid is pushed to the mouth. If the acid is forced back to the mouth, it causes the feeling of throwing up..

Not So Common Acid Reflux Symptoms:

There are some acid reflux patients who do not experience the primary acid reflux symptoms. Rather, they experience not so common acid reflux symptoms such as:

1. Burning Sensation in the Chest – chest pain is characterized by the feeling that your food could not move from behind your breastbone. While this can be a symptom of acid reflux, chest pain can also signal other medical conditions such as angina and heart attack.

2. Acid Reflux Symptoms experienced in the throat – some of these are:

• Acid laryngitis - this condition is characterized by dry cough, hoarseness, feeling of lump in the throat, and the need to clear the throat repeatedly
• Dysphagia (trouble swallowing) - in some cases, acid reflux may cause the patient to choke or have difficulty in swallowing the food, thereby causing severe chest pain.
• Persistent hiccups· Chronic sore throat

3. Coughing and Respiratory Problems – Patients with acid reflux may also experience coughing and wheezing. As a matter of fact, around 40% of the cases of coughing in patients who do not smoke are attributed to acid reflux.

4. Chronic Nausea and Vomiting – if you have experienced nausea for more than a week or even for months, then you may have acid reflux symptoms. Under some circumstances, patients with acid reflux may vomit at least once a day. However, it is important to consult with your doctor to be properly diagnosed and rule out other possible conditions such as ulcers, stomach cancer, pancreatic or gallbladder disorders.