What is Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux disease is caused when the stomach allows the acids to splash into the esophagus resulting in burning in the upper chest regions with an acidic taste in the mouth. The symptoms are often felt after eating or consuming certain foods or beverages. Acid reflux disease can lead to GERD then progressively into cancer if left untreated or diagnosed.
Acid Reflux Symptoms
The beginning of acid reflux is often associated with heartburn. The symptoms can be aggravated by heavy meals, lifting, lying down after a meal, reclining after eating, or bending over. Most individuals suffer more frequently during the night while lying down. The nighttime suffers have a higher level of pain compared to the other times of the acid reflux disease. Some patients have compared the nighttime pain to severe angina or a heart attack.
Acid reflux disease does not always lead to GERD. There is one disease called Barrett’s esophagus disease where there are precancerous alterations in the esophagus that often occur more frequently in elderly individuals. Some people have heartburn without any progression into GERD.
Some of the symptoms of acid reflux disease include dyspepsia symptoms of pain or discomfort in the upper abdominal regions, nausea after eating meals, and fullness in the stomach after eating. Individuals suffering from dyspepsia do not always get GERD but do have high levels of discomfort.
Another symptom of acid reflux disease is called regurgitation where the acids back up into the throat or mouth. Some people end up vomiting with this form of acid reflux. The burning sensation in the throat and mouth with an acidic taste is quite frequent.
Lesser symptoms of acid reflux disease include chest pains or sensations similar to a heart attack. This is due to food becoming trapped in the breastbone regions. This symptom is often mistaken for heart attacks as well as left untreated and resulting in misdiagnosing a true heart attack.
Symptoms involving the regions of the throat include acid laryngitis leading to a dry cough, hoarseness, and the sensation of the “lump in the throat’ or the need to continuously clear the throat.
Trouble swallowing or dysphasia in some severe cases results in individual choking on food leading to chest pains of the trapped food in the esophagus. Other symptoms include persistent hiccupping and chronic sore throats.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, consult a physician for proper diagnosis to prevent further damage.