Acid Reflux Disease Symptoms

Sometimes it can be difficult to tell the difference between acid reflux disease symptoms (or gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD) and regular heartburn symptoms. If your symptoms are chronic, take action in monitoring your digestive health. Review the list of acid reflux disease symptoms below and decide whether or not it’s time to call a doctor.

Acid Reflux Disease Symptoms

Heartburn: the principal acid reflux disease symptom. Heartburn most commonly occurs at night and after physical exertion, heavy eating or simply lying down.

Up to half of the people afflicted by GERD experience dyspepsia – a syndrome characterized by abdomen pain, fullness and nausea – in addition to their acid reflux disease symptoms.

In addition, another common acid reflux disease symptom is regurgitation – the feeling of acid backing up in the throat.

However, many sufferers of GERD do not experience the acid reflux disease symptoms listed above. Instead, symptoms develop in other locations such as:

Chest: some GERD patients experience pain, or the sensation that food is trapped behind their sternum.

Throat: acid reflux disease symptoms in the throat include hoarseness, dry cough, “lump” sensation, need for repeated clearing, soreness and trouble swallowing, and persistent hiccups.

Respiratory System: acid reflux disease symptoms can mimic asthmatic symptoms like coughing/wheezing.

In addition to these locations, other unusual acid reflux disease symptoms can include chronic nausea and vomiting. If your nausea persists for more than a week, it could be GERD among a number of other, potentially more serious, causes.

Between 30 and 40% of the population experiences occasional, short-lived heartburn. However, if these acid reflux disease symptoms persist and apply to you, seek medical attention and you can more than likely begin to treat your GERD in little to no time.