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Common GERD symptoms include the following:
• Heartburn, burning pain in the chest (under the breastbone), which is increased by bending, stooping, lying down, or eating, and may be more frequent or worse at night; it can be relieved by antacids
• Belching
• Regurgitation of food
• Nausea and vomiting
• Vomiting blood
• Hoarsness or change in voice
• Persistent sore throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Cough (often dry) or wheezing
• Asthma
• Chest pain
• Bad breath
• The feeling that food is stuck in your throat, or that you are choking, or that your throat is tight.
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GERD occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) does not close properly, and stomach contents splash back, or reflux, into the esophagus. The LES is a ring of muscle at the bottom of the esophagus; it acts like a camera shutter between the esophagus and stomach. The esophagus is the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach.
In gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), food or liquid travels from the stomach, back up into the esophagus. This partially digested material is usually acidic, and can irritate the esophagus, causing a burning sensation in the chest or throat, called "heartburn." The sufferer may even taste stomach acid in the back of the mouth, called "acid indigestion."
GERD is a common condition, which often occurs without symptoms after meals. Occasional heartburn is common in GERD, but is not necessarily a symptom of GERD. Heartburn that occurs more than twice a week may be considered GERD, which can eventually lead to more serious health problems.
Anyone-including infants, children, and pregnant women-can have GERD. The main symptoms are persistent heartburn and acid regurgitation. The risk factors for reflux include hiatal hernia, pregnancy, and scleroderma.
