GERD Symptoms: What to Watch For

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic digestive condition that affects the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the muscle responsible for keeping stomach acid in the stomach. When this muscle is weakened or relaxes, stomach acid can flow back up into the esophagus and cause symptoms like heartburn, chest pain, and a sour taste in the mouth. GERD can also lead to more serious complications such as Barrett’s esophagus and even cancer. Knowing what to watch for when it comes to GERD symptoms can help you get an early diagnosis and treatment.

The most common symptom of GERD is heartburn, which is a burning sensation in your chest that may spread up into your throat or neck. Other common symptoms include regurgitation of food or liquid, difficulty swallowing, sore throat, hoarseness, coughing, wheezing, nausea after eating and bad breath. If you experience any of these symptoms regularly you should talk to your doctor about getting tested for GERD.

In addition to these common symptoms there are some less obvious signs of GERD that you should be aware of as well. These include chest pain that isn’t related to eating or exercise; unexplained weight loss; vomiting; difficulty sleeping due to nighttime heartburn; asthma-like symptoms such as shortness of breath; chronic sore throat; laryngitis; dry mouth; bad taste in your mouth; and tooth erosion due to acid refluxing into your mouth during sleep.

If left untreated GERD can lead to more serious medical conditions such as Barrett’s esophagus which increases risk for developing cancer in the esophagus so it is important not ignore any potential signs or symptoms related to GERD. If you have any concerns about your digestive health be sure speak with your doctor about them right away so they can run tests and determine if treatment is necessary for managing GERD effectively before it leads to more severe complications down the road.

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Tags:

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), lower esophageal sphincter (LES), stomach acid, esophagus, heartburn, chest pain, sour taste, Barrett’s esophagus, cancer, regurgitation of food/liquid, difficulty swallowing, sore throat, hoarseness, coughing/wheezing/nausea after eating/bad breath/chest pain not related to eating or exercise/unexplained weight loss/vomiting/difficulty sleeping due to nighttime heartburn/asthma-like symptoms such as shortness of breath/chronic sore throat/laryngitis/dry mouth bad taste in your mouth and tooth erosion.,

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