What Are the Symptoms?
While heartburn is the most common symptom, there are many other symptoms, both acid-related and non-acid-related. Acid-related symptoms can cause a burning sensation in the esophagus, for example, and non-acid-related symptoms like regurgitation can cause asthma when stomach fluids aspirate into the lungs. Most GERD sufferers attribute their symptoms to acid reflux, but reflux of non-acid stomach fluids can cause similar symptoms and can be just as harmful to the esophagus. .
Typical symptoms include:
- Heartburn
- Sore throat
- Excessive salivation (waterbrash)
- Belching
- Bloating
- Pain or discomfort in the chest
- Bad breadth
- Reflux-related sleep disorders
- Early satiety (leading to weight loss)
- Yellow fluid or stains on pillow after sleep
- Intolerance of certain foods and liquids (especially alcoholic beverages)
Atypical symptoms include:
- Regurgitation
- Hoarseness or laryngitis
- Frequent swallowing
- Asthma or asthma-like symptoms
- Excessive clearing of the throat
- Persistent cough
- Burning in the mouth or throat (acid taste in the mouth)
- Dental erosions or therapy-resistant gum disease or inflammation
- Discomfort in the ears and nose
Some reflux is normal, but if you suffer any of the typical or atypical symptoms of reflux more than twice a week, you may have GERD. They are early warning signs of a potentially serious condition. See your doctor for a GERD evaluation.
GERD is a treatable disease.
