What are the symptoms of acid reflux?

What are the symptoms of acid reflux?

The most common symptom of acid reflux is heartburn. Heartburn doesn't mean you have reflux, it can also be caused by other illnesses, including a severe candida yeast infection or overgrowth. A candida infection can lead to a variety of problems including thrush, depression, skin irritation, heartburn and hemorrhoids.

It is possible to have acid reflux without suffering from heartburn. There are a number of other atypical symptoms that may occur.

Acid reflux generally occurs after eating. Symptoms may take one to two hours to appear, depending on what you ate, how much you ate, and what you do after eating. Lying down, bending over, or participating in physical exertion will make reflux symptoms worse.

If you experience acid reflux symptoms more than twice a week, you may have GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) and should see a doctor. GERD is caused by damage to the esophagus when stomach contents come into contact with it for long periods of time.

heartburn

Heartburn is characterized by a burning or restless feeling behind the breastbone that can also extend into the throat and neck. The burning sensation is due to stomach contents moving through the esophagus (tube between the throat and stomach) into the throat.

Around 75% of acid reflux patients experience heartburn at night.

Heartburn has nothing to do with the heart.

Difficulty swallowing

A burning sensation or pain is felt in the throat when swallowing. Pain can become severe when swallowing food. This may also be accompanied by the feeling that a lump of food is lodged in the throat or chest. This is caused by the membrane lining the throat and esophagus becoming damaged by excessive exposure to stomach acid.

Upset stomach or indigestion

About 50% of reflux patients suffer from an upset stomach. This may be characterized by pain and discomfort in the upper abdomen, nausea after eating, excessive belching, and a feeling of having a full stomach much sooner than expected.

Belching

Here the stomach contents (food, stomach acid and enzymes) flow back into the pharynx (very back wall of the mouth) and sometimes even up to the mouth. This is often accompanied by a bitter or sour taste in the mouth.

Asthmatic symptoms

This is characterized by wheezing, coughing and sneezing. Breathing naturally is difficult. When you vomit, acid or acid vapor can enter your lungs. This leads to asthma symptoms. This particularly occurs in people who suffer from asthma.

Hoarseness or harshness of voice

Because of the pressure on the vocal cord, your voice may sound harsh and you may have trouble speaking and have to clear your throat frequently. The throat wall may also become hardened after regular exposure to stomach acid.

Yellow liquid or stains on your pillow

If you have reflux at night, you may wake up and find yellow fluid or stains on your pillow. The fluid is usually stomach acid.

Many of these symptoms are just normal ailments that most of us experience at some point. Acid reflux becomes apparent when there are enough symptoms for your doctor to diagnose it. Your doctor may order tests to confirm the diagnosis.

There are natural remedies for acid reflux. Simple changes to your diet are often enough to completely stop all symptoms of acid reflux.

Please carefully review the short- and long-term side effects of taking antacids and other acid reflux medications. Many of these can actually worsen your condition. The FDA has issued a safety alert regarding long-term use of proton pump inhibitors. Prolonged use can lead to osteoporosis and an increased risk of fractures.

Inspired by Blaine L Jackson