People with weak LES or excess stomach pressure causes acid reflux, which in-turn leads to esophageal inflammation, heartburn & other GERD symptoms.
11 Commen symptoms of GERD
Acid reflux causes GERD symptoms that include:
- Regurgitation, the backflow of stomach content back into the mouth.
- Bloating, fullness, nausea, and belching after meals.
- Sharp burning pain behind the breastbone called as heartburn is the most common symptom of GERD. Bending over or lying down worsen the symptoms.
- Recurring sour or bitter taste in mouth, periodically, or throughout the day.
- Gum irritation, inflammation, bleeding, infection and even pus formation.
- Chronic sore, dry, and irritated throat especially during sleep (especially in air-conditioned room) and wakeup choking or coughing in the middle of the night.
- Hoarseness (difficulty trying to speak), especially during wakeup. This is may be due to dry throat disappear immediately after drinking water or swallowing saliva.
- Chest or upper abdomen tightness may wake you up in the middle of the night.
- Asthma like symptoms such as coughing and wheezing. At times, the stomach content backflow slips into the lungs, causing irritation and triggers bronchial spasms and other symptoms that are exactly same as asthma. Once we treat the GERD, the asthma symptoms go away.
- Feeling a lump in the throat or food stuck in the chest.
- Difficulty swallowing due to narrowing of esophagus.
Most children below 12 years and some adults, have GERD without heartburn. Instead, they may experience dry cough, asthma like symptoms, and/or trouble swallowing.
One-third of people who think they have asthma actually suffer from GERD.