Acid Reflux Symptoms – Knowing More About Acid Reflux

June 29th, 2010 Posted in Anxiety and Depression

Acid reflux symptoms characterize the condition called acid reflux or GERD, which occurs because of the weakening of the tube that transports the food taken in to the stomach, making it unable to handle the acid. The acid the stomach produces and stores is used to digest the food consumed. The stomach walls should have enough strength to store the acid it produces without damaging anything in the system. However, different symptoms may be experienced when the acid is pushed up the esophagus from the stomach. If you want to know more about acid reflux symptoms, read on.

Acid Refux Symptoms:

1. Heartburn – GERD or acid reflux is mainly characterized by heartburn, one of the primary acid reflux symptoms, often described as pain or burning sensation that radiates from the abdomen to the chest and throat. A certain medical study states that 75% of patients with acid reflux experience this symptom at night especially after they have engaged in certain activities such as:

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

2. Dyspepsia – almost 50% of acid reflux patients suffer from dyspepsia, a condition characterized by the following:

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

However, it is important to remember that it is possible to have dyspepsia without having acid reflux.

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. Chest Pain or Sensations – this is the sensation or feeling that the food is trapped and can’t move from behind the breastbone. While this signals acid reflux, it is important to know that it is different from chest pain due to some heart conditions, like heart attack and angina.

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. Respiratory Symptoms and Coughing – Wheezing and coughing may also occur. In one medical study, acid reflux alone accounted for around 40% of chronic cough cases in non-smoking patients.

4. Chronic Nausea and Throwing Up – constant occurrence of nausea that often leads to vomiting or throwing up may also be one of the acid reflux symptoms. However, this isn’t always the cause as nausea and vomiting may also signal other medical conditions like gallbladder and pancreatic disorders, ulcers, and stomach cancers. Thus, it is necessary to always consult with your doctor whenever this symptom is experienced.