Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common medical problem. It affects millions of people, and sometimes they don’t even realize they have it. Also, acid reflux can cause other illnesses.
According to the researchers, it may aggravate asthma, which is proven by the fact that the majority of asthmatics have GERD. Creative Side has found signs to help you diagnose acid reflux.
First of all, you should know that acid reflux is a long-term condition. Everything you eat goes back into the esophagus and causes unpleasant symptoms or complications.
Overweight people, pregnant women, smokers, and those taking certain medicines are at risk of developing it.
So what are the signs and symptoms that indicate you may have GERD? Read on to find out.
What Are Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Signs?
6. Acidic Taste In The Mouth
This condition is generally caused by the muscle or sphincter in the upper part of the stomach. When it weakens, the acid rises into the feeding tube.
The sour acidic taste can stay for weeks and be very irritating, affecting your quality of life. This problem is especially common among pregnant women because there is more pressure on the stomach.
5. Regurgitation
Regurgitation is a backing up of acid in the throat or mouth. You may experience a bitter taste, belching, and sometimes even vomiting.
Regurgitation can occur at any time but is especially disturbing at night. You may wake up with a bitter liquid in your throat and a feeling of panic.
4. Heartburn
Many people around the world have heard of and even experienced heartburn, but almost none of them think that they have acid reflux. Heartburn is the most common symptom of GERD.
Heartburn symptoms are usually burning or discomfort in the middle of the lower chest after eating. The discomfort can increase when lying down or lying on your back.
3. Dyspepsia
When experiencing acid reflux, you may experience stomach discomfort, including nausea after eating, pain in the upper abdomen, belching, and a feeling of fullness in the stomach.
Sometimes you are not even hungry and do not feel hungry because of the feeling of fullness in your stomach.
2. Dysphagia
Dysphagia means that you can feel the sensation of food accumulating in your throat. This happens due to a narrowing of your esophagus.
When dysphagia occurs, it can become challenging as you are unable to swallow, so you may be consuming insufficient calories, which can lead to additional medical problems.
1. Coughing
Coughing is not a typical symptom of acid reflux, but at least 25 to 40% of cases are reported with chronic cough.
Except for the symptoms mentioned above, you may experience less common signs, such as pain when swallowing, increased salivation, weight loss, sore throat, bad breath, dry mouth, and chest pain.
How Can You Stop Acid Reflux?
First of all, your lifestyle causes acid reflux. Therefore, it is very important to follow simple rules.
- Eat smaller portions. It is better to eat more often than to have a big meal once or twice a day.
- It is important to avoid alcohol, acid, spices, and fatty foods.
- Lose weight if necessary.
- Do not wear tight clothing.
- Do not eat before bed.
Do you have any symptoms of GERD? How do you take care of your stomach? Leave a comment if our article was useful to you.