Signs Of Acid Reflux

Do you know the signs of acid reflux? If you often feel pain in the chest after eating or you know that you are constantly suffering from heartburn, then you might be showing signs of acid reflux.

According to E-Medicine Health, persistent heartburn is the most common symptom of GERD.

• Heartburn is a burning pain in the center of the chest, behind the breastbone. It often starts in the upper abdomen and spreads up into the neck.
• The pain can last as long as 2 hours.
• Heartburn is usually worse after eating.
• Lying down or bending over can bring on heartburn or make it worse.
• The pain usually does not start or get worse with physical activity.
• Heartburn is sometimes referred to as acid indigestion.
• Not everyone with GERD has heartburn.

Other symptoms of GERD include the following:

• Regurgitation of bitter acid up into the throat while sleeping or bending over
• Bitter taste in the mouth
• Persistent dry cough
• Hoarseness (especially in the morning)
• Feeling of tightness in the throat, as if a piece of food is stuck there
• Wheezing

Source: E-Medicine Health

Medicine Net has explained heartburn further and went into the details as to why this occurs. It likewise provided some explanation with regards to the other symptoms of acid reflux such as regurgitation and nausea.

Heartburn

When acid refluxes back into the esophagus in patients with GERD, nerve fibers in the esophagus are stimulated. This nerve stimulation results most commonly in heartburn, the pain that is characteristic of GERD. Heartburn usually is described as a burning pain in the middle of the chest. It may start high in the abdomen or may extend up into the neck. In some patients, however, the pain may be sharp or pressure-like, rather than burning. Such pain can mimic heart pain (angina). In other patients, the pain may extend to the back.

Since acid reflux is more common after meals, heartburn is more common after meals. Heartburn is also more common when individuals lie down because without the effects of gravity, reflux occurs more easily, and acid is returned to the stomach more slowly. Many patients with GERD are awakened from sleep by heartburn.

Episodes of heartburn may occur infrequently or frequently, but episodes tend to happen periodically. This means that the episodes are more frequent or severe for a period of several weeks or months, and then they become less frequent or severe or even absent for several weeks or months. This periodicity of symptoms provides the rationale for intermittent treatment in patients with GERD who do not have esophagitis. Nevertheless, heartburn is a life-long problem, and it almost always returns.

Regurgitation

Regurgitation is the appearance of refluxed liquid in the mouth. In most patients with GERD, usually only small quantities of liquid reach the esophagus, and the liquid remains in the lower esophagus. Occasionally in some patients with GERD, larger quantities of liquid, sometimes containing food, are refluxed and reach the upper esophagus.

At the upper end of the esophagus is the upper esophageal sphincter (UES). The UES is a circular ring of muscle that is very similar in its actions to the LES. That is, the UES prevents esophageal contents from backing up into the throat. When small amounts of refluxed liquid and/or foods breach (get through) the UES and enter the throat, there may be an acid taste in the mouth. If larger quantities breach the UES, patients may suddenly find their mouths filled with the liquid or food. What’s more, frequent or prolonged regurgitation can lead to acid-induced erosions of the teeth.

Nausea

Nausea is uncommon in GERD. In some patients, however, it may be frequent or severe and may result in vomiting. In fact, in patients with unexplained nausea and/or vomiting, GERD is one of the first conditions to be considered. It is not clear why some patients with GERD develop mainly heartburn and others develop mainly nausea.

Source: Medicine Net

While acid reflux may not be something that can be considered as fatal, it is still a bothersome condition that can cause you a lot of trouble if not treated at the outset. So once you are able to identify the signs of acid reflux, make sure that you look for treatment right away.

Signs Of Acid Reflux is a post from: Natural Health Magazine