Many people may experience acid reflux, indigestion, or heartburn from time to time. However, if you experience acid reflux symptoms more than twice per week, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
GERD affects about of people in the United States. If left untreated, it may lead to serious complications.
Symptoms of GERD
The most common symptom of GERD is persistent heartburn, which may involve:
- a burning feeling in your stomach that may rise to your chest, neck, and throat
- a sour or bitter taste at the back of your mouth
- regurgitation of food or liquid from your stomach into your mouth
Other possible symptoms of GERD include:
- a feeling of fullness or of a lump in the back of your throat (globus sensation)
- chronic cough
- a hoarse voice
- bad breath
In some cases, people may experience symptoms associated with GERD. These are typically persistent and could progressively worsen despite medical treatment. Alarm symptoms may also indicate an underlying condition.
Alarm symptoms may include:
- difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- pain when swallowing (odynophagia)
- nausea or vomiting
- weight loss
- anemia
- bleeding
If you’re experiencing any of these, get medical attention.
Symptoms in infants
It’s normal for babies to sometimes spit up food or vomit. But if your baby is frequently spitting or vomiting, they may have GERD.
Other signs and symptoms of GERD in infants might include:
- refusal to eat
- trouble swallowing
- gagging or choking
- wet burps or hiccups
- irritability or arching of the back during or after feeding
- weight loss or poor growth
- recurring cough or pneumonia
- difficulty sleeping
If you suspect that your baby might have GERD or another health condition, speak with a doctor
Causes of GERD
GERD commonly causes acid reflux, which may result from improper functioning of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).
The LES is a circular band of muscle at the end of your esophagus. When you swallow, it relaxes and opens up to allow food and liquid to travel from your mouth to your stomach. Then, it tightens and closes again.
Acid reflux happens when your LES doesn’t tighten or close properly. This allows digestive juices and other contents of your stomach to rise up into your esophagus.
Your LES may not function properly if you:
- Have a hiatal hernia: This occurs when part of your stomach moves above your diaphragm toward your chest. If your diaphragm is compromised, it may prevent your LES from functioning properly.
- Frequently eat large meals: This may cause distension of the upper part of your stomach. This distension sometimes means there isn’t enough pressure on the LES, and it doesn’t close properly.
- Lie down too soon after meals: This might not create enough pressure for the LES to function properly.
Other factors, including those listed below, may also contribute to having heartburn more than twice a week.
Lifestyle factors
Lifestyle factors that may contribute to persistent reflux with esophageal inflammation include:
- smoking or being exposed to secondhand smoke
- eating large meals before lying down
- using an abundance of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen
Health factors
Health factors such as the following may contribute to GERD:
- obesity
- pregnancy
- connective tissue disorders
- older age
Other conditions
Other health conditions that can worsen the symptoms of GERD include:
- anxiety
- pregnancy
- asthma
- irritable bowel syndrome
Alcohol
Studies suggest that drinking alcohol may increase the risk of GERD. The greater the quantity of alcohol and frequency of consumption, the greater the correlation.
If you’ve received a diagnosis of GERD, limiting or stopping alcohol intake may provide symptom relief.
Dietary triggers
Some foods may trigger GERD symptoms more than others, including:
- high fat foods such as fried and fast foods
- spicy foods
- certain fruits and vegetables, such as pineapple, tomato, and citrus
- certain liquids, such as coffee, tea, and carbonated drinks
A doctor will typically take your medical history and perform a physical examination to assess your symptoms.
If you’re experiencing alarm symptoms, such as chest pain or trouble swallowing, they may refer you to a gastroenterologist or request certain tests, including:
- Ambulatory 24-hour pH probe: A small tube is inserted through your nose into your esophagus. A pH sensor at the tip of the tube measures how much acid exposure your esophagus is getting and sends the data to a portable computer. You wear this tube for about 24 hours.
- Esophagram: After you drink a barium solution, healthcare professionals use X-ray imaging to examine your upper digestive tract.
- Upper endoscopy: A flexible tube with a tiny camera is threaded into your esophagus to examine it and collect a tissue sample (biopsy) if needed.
- Esophageal manometry: A flexible tube is passed through your nose into your esophagus to measure the strength of your esophageal muscles.
- Esophageal pH monitoring: A monitor is inserted into your esophagus to help healthcare professionals find out how acid is regulated in your body over a few days.
After arriving at a diagnosis, your doctor will speak with you to decide what treatment plan will work best for you.
Treatment for GERD
Lifestyle strategies
To manage and relieve symptoms of GERD, certain home remedies and lifestyle habits may help, including:
- breathing exercises
- consuming foods and liquids that may help with your acid reflux
- making efforts to maintain a moderate weight
- quitting smoking, if you smoke
- avoiding eating big, heavy meals in the evening
- waiting 2–3 hours after eating to lie down
- elevating your head during sleep
Medication
If lifestyle strategies alone don’t help treat GERD, a doctor might prescribe medications to decrease your stomach acid secretion, since acid reflux is a common manifestation of GERD.
These may include:
- proton pump inhibitors
- antacids
- H2 receptor blockers
Consult a doctor before taking medications because they may have negative side effects.
Complications of untreated GERD
For most people, GERD doesn’t cause serious complications.
However, in rare cases, it may lead to serious or life-threatening health problems such as:
- esophagitis, which is inflammation of your esophagus
- esophageal stricture, which happens when your esophagus narrows or tightens
- Barrett’s esophagus, which involves permanent changes to the lining of your esophagus
- esophageal cancer, which affects a small portion of people with Barrett’s esophagus
- tooth enamel erosion, gum disease, or other dental problems
To lower your chances of complications, it’s important to take the steps to prevent, manage, and treat symptoms of GERD.
If you experience heartburn every so often, you’re not alone. Lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications are usually enough to address these occasional instances.
But if you’re experiencing heartburn more than twice per week and small lifestyle changes are not helping, you may be dealing with GERD.
If you’ve received a diagnosis of GERD, your doctor will help you find a treatment plan that works for you.
Don’t let persistent heartburn get in the way of living your life. Talk with a doctor if you believe you may have symptoms of GERD.
Article retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health