Helping to Discover Your GERD Symptoms

The main symptom of GERD is heartburn, which is a sensation of localized pain behind the breastbone cooking, but can move up to the back of the throat. The pain can last for 2 hours and worsens when the person who is affected eating, stretches or bends.

Since heartburn and heart attack have similar symptoms, it is important to recognize what distinguishes them. When it comes to a heart attack, the pain kind of burn moves gradually towards the end of the left arm or both arms. In the case of GERD, the burning seat in the upper part of the chest.

In addition, exercise may aggravate chest pain a person having a heart attack (or suffering from heart disease), while the rest, and some medications can give him relief. By cons, physical activity does not affect the type of burning pain associated with GERD. In all cases, even those who have typical symptoms of GERD will likely undergo tests which will establish that these symptoms are not caused by a Heart Attack.

Alarming Symptoms

Alarming symptoms lead to consult a doctor immediately as they may be signs of a complication or another disease:

Difficulty swallowing.
Pain during swallowing.
Coughing, wheezing and repeated need to rinse the throat.
Upset stomach and vomiting.
Weight loss.
Sputum (phlegm) that contain blood or blood in vomit or stool (black stools)

Other symptoms of GERD include regurgitation (when swallowing food or liquid back up the throat or mouth), a sour or bitter taste in the throat or in the back of the mouth, an overproduction of saliva, references, an upset stomach or vomiting. People who inhale the acid reflux cough could be suffering from hoarseness or wheeze. GERD symptoms are usually more intense after a meal.

Complicated Symptoms

If GERD is not well supported, other complications may occur with time. Among these, there may be more like:

The esophageal stricture (scarring of the esophagus), which reduces the diameter of the esophagus and makes swallowing difficult.
Esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus) which can make the painful swallowing.
Pharyngitis (inflammation of the throat) that affects the vocal cords and can manifest as an alteration of the voice.
Dental problems such as an increased risk of caries or tooth damage due to acid reflux risk.
Asthma, especially for adults.
Chronic cough or frequent hiccups.

Hyperplasia or Barrett Barrett's esophagus occurs when an abnormal healing of a region of the lining of the esophagus destroyed by an ulcer (the usual lining is replaced by tissue that is similar to that found in the stomach or intestines. people with this condition may eventually have an increased risk of esophageal cancer.)

GERD Care