Recognizing Acid Reflux Symptoms
Acid reflux occurs when the barrier between the stomach and the esophagus fails and permits acid from the stomach to back up into the esophagus. The disorder is also referred to as gastric reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disorder, and GERD.
What You Need To Look Out For
The most prevalent symptom of acid reflux is persistent, debilitating heartburn. This is a universal symptom reported by acid reflux patients. The pain usually starts in the upper abdomen or the center of the chest, behind the breastbone, and moves upward, toward the neck. The pain is usually worse immediately after a meal, and it can last for up to two hours.
Reading patients' firsthand reports of living with acid reflux gives you a good idea of what acid reflux symptoms are like.
What People Go Through
Chuck T., an acid reflux sufferer, described his acid reflux symptoms by saying, "it feels like someone is pouring battery acid down your throat." Chuck T. also had another common symptom of acid reflux: difficulty swallowing due to development of scar tissue around the base of his esophagus.
Susan C., who has had acid reflux symptoms for two years, reports experiencing chest pain, tightness in her stomach, and then panic attacks.
Bill R. has acid reflux symptoms that include regurgitating small amounts of bitter acid into the mouth when he bends over or, sometimes, while he is sleeping. Understandably, these episodes leave a bitter taste in his mouth. Bill also suffers from a dry cough and a hoarse voice, especially in the morning or after eating.
Other patients also report experiencing panic attacks, especially when they have difficulty swallowing and fear they are going to choke to death. Some patients feel as if something is stuck in the back of their throat.
Children who have acid reflux have common symptoms of coughing, vomiting, and respiratory problems.
Other acid reflux symptoms may include a persistent cough, hoarseness and other changes of the voice, chronic ear aches, burning chest paints, nausea, or sinusitis. Acid reflux sufferers may have one or more of any of these symptoms.
Treatment
Treatment for these acid reflux symptoms can be conservative, like having the patient cease eating for several hours before bedtime, having the patient lie on their left side while sleeping, elevating the head of the patient's bed, and limiting caffeine, alcohol, and other trigger foods.
If these conservative measures to not relieve the patient's acid reflux symptoms, patients can also take prescription medication or undergo surgical procedures to alleviate the symptoms of acid reflux.
