Symptoms Of Acid Reflux

What Are The Common And Uncommon Symptoms Of Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux is an uncomfortable and annoying condition to experience. Unfortunately it is very common and regularly experienced by millions of Americans. For some it will only come about after eating certain foods but for others it is a more serious medical condition they have little control over. The symptoms of acid reflux vary from person to person however there are many symptoms that seem to be more prevalent than others.

Common Symptoms

Acid reflux is digestive acid from the stomach moving up towards the throat. As it does this it passes through the beginning of the digestive system, mainly the esophagus. Because only the stomach is equipped to hold this digestive acid, other parts of the body do not react well to its presence. The reaction to the digestive acid is a symptom that is felt as an uncomfortable and burning sensation. As the acid moves upward from the stomach most people will experience heartburn, the most common symptom of acid reflux.

Discomfort in the upper abdomen or chest is also very common and recognized by most people as indigestion but otherwise known as dyspepsia. You will feel full before you normally would and often feel uncomfortable sitting. It can feel as though food or gas is trapped in your upper abdomen or chest and very often results in the hiccups or burping.

Stomach pain after eating a large meal or a meal that was high in fat is often an early symptom of acid reflux. This uncomfortable pain is often followed by other common symptoms mentioned here.

Uncommon Symptoms

These uncommon symptoms of acid reflux are often a sign of an underlying medical condition that should be addressed by a doctor.

Those with severe gastro-esophageal regurgitation disease (GERD) may experience difficulty in swallowing. This is often due to damage done to the walls of the esophagus by repeated exposure to gastric acid from previous bouts of acid reflux.

Regurgitation of food is not common but is a certain sign of a serious condition that needs addressing by a doctor. Regurgitation is when food from your stomach makes it way back up through your esophagus and actually back into your mouth. This is a very unpleasant experience similar to that of vomiting and can do serious damage to the lining of the throat and esophagus if it continues.

A sore throat and a bad taste in your mouth can also be signs that digestive acid is present in your throat. These will usually be accompanied by other symptoms if they have been caused by acid reflux.

Treatment

There are various treatments for the symptoms of acid reflux. These range from over the counter antacids through to powerful drugs that can only be prescribed by a doctor. If you regularly experience symptoms of acid reflux and are unable to determine the cause you should speak with your doctor about the best treatment method for you as ongoing use of over the counter medication can have adverse and sometimes long lasting side effects.