Acid Reflux Solutions

SYMPTOMS OF ACID REFLUX

There are lots of people right now suffering from acid reflux at least once a month. Acid reflux, also known as Gastroesophageal reflux disease, is caused primarily by the backflow of your stomach acid to your esophagus due to a weak lower esophageal sphincter. Although it is not a serious disease it could lead to complications if not attended to.

Acid reflux strikes anyone at any age level. Even infants suffer from acid reflux and it is more difficult to get a correct diagnosis from them since they still cannot express themselves.

How do I know that I have acid reflux? Well there are lots of symptoms which could be a sign that you have acid reflux. We will be discussing most of the popular one’s here so that you would be aware of them.

Heartburn

The name itself sounds that your heart is burning but this has nothing to do with your heart at all. Almost everyone would experience this in their lifetime. When you feel a burning sensation that moves from your stomach and chest then you probably have heartburn. You would also usually experience a sour taste at the back of your throat when this happens. Heartburn usually occurs after eating a heavy meal, when you bend over, when you lift a heavy load or even when you lie down. What happens in heartburn is that your stomach acid rises to your esophagus. If you regularly get heartburn in a week then it’s time to consult a doctor regarding your condition.

Here are some of signs of heartburn

1. When you feel a burning sensation just below your ribs
2. You feel pain on your arms, shoulder and neck
3. The pain starts right after eating a heavy meal, exercising or having anxiety

Dyspepsia

Most people know dyspepsia as an upset stomach. Almost everyone gets affected by this ailment which is caused by indigestion. There are various reasons on why people suffer from indigestion ranging from the food being taken or some imbalance in stomach bacteria. How is dyspepsia a symptom of acid reflux? Well lets take a look at some of the signs of dyspepsia first which are constant burping, feeling of bloating, nausea and stomach discomfort. This usually happens right after eating a heavy meal. Do you recall the last time you went out on a party and ate heavily? Chances are you had an upset stomach right afterwards. Once dyspepsia occurs your stomach acid would backflow to your esophagus which might inflame it.

Regurgitation

When you feel something that backs out from your throat chances are your are having a regurgitation. This is usually composed of some food or acid and is usually sour in taste. Regurgitation is one symptom of acid reflux since it means that your stomach acid is being pushed to your esophagus. In extreme cases, a person would vomit a lot of food specially after eating a heavy meal.

Dysphagia

Dysphagia is commonly known as difficulty in swallowing. There are two reasons why a person would have difficulty in swallowing. First is a problem in the mouth and second is a problem in the esophagus. Since we are more concerned with acid reflux then we concentrate on the esophagus problem. Remember that the acid from your stomach would reach your esophagus during an acid reflux. When this happens your esophagus would narrow down due to irritation making swallowing food difficult.

Hoarseness

There are various reasons why your voice may sound raspy and strained. The most common reasons are laryngitis or due to using your voice too much. Acid reflux is also one common reason why a person would suddenly develop a hoarse voice. When your stomach acid reaches your esophagus they sometimes also reach your vocal cords. Your stomach acid would then irritate your vocal cords causing your voice to change. During this period you would usually experience the sensation of a lump on your throat and have the desire to clear it.

Chronic Cough

People who usually have chronic cough may not know that they already have acid reflux. Usually when  you don’t have heartburn or dyspepsia we often think that we only have an ordinary cough.  Because our esophagus will be irritated we would develop a chronic cough. Most of the time the cough would also be caused by the non-acidic substances of our stomach that would reach he esophagus. When you develop a chronic cough it is bes to consult a doctor to avoid any potential health risks.

Sour Taste

When you suddenly develop a bad taste which is usually accompanied by bad breath then there is a very high probability that you have acid reflux. The reason for this is that when the stomach acid reaches the esophagus you would be able to taste it. People might not regurgitate or even show other symptoms of acid reflux, just he feeling of a sour taste. This shows that your acid reflux is mild but then again take the necessary precautions in treating it.

These are just some of the common symptoms a person would have when they experience an acid reflux. Normally, these symptoms are not life threatening and would cause no further complications as long as it is treated. The most evident damage caused by constantly experiencing acid reflux is the scarring of your esophagus. This is because your stomach acid is very strong and can irritate your esophagus. Over the course of time acid reflux can also cause throat cancer based on research done.

Once you develop one of the symptoms of acid reflux don’t take it lightly. A visit to the doctor is highly recommended if you develop any of these alarming symptoms

1. Difficulty in swallowing food
2. Regurgitation of blood
3. Rapid weight loss
4. Sore throat that does not disappear
5. Hiccups that don’t go away

Now that you know most of the common symptoms of acid reflux you will immediately know what to do the next time you encounter any of these.