Also known as acid indigestion, heartburn is the cause of stomach acid reflux into the esophagus through a burning sensation in the throat or chest. Heartburn is a common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This refers to a chronic condition in which the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) weakens or relaxes when it separates the stomach from the esophagus, allowing stomach acid to rise back up into the esophagus.
People who often experience heartburn more than twice a week have GERD. Make sure to see a gastroenterologist (a doctor who focuses on the digestive system) if you can already suspect that you have GERD. But before consulting a medical professional, it’s also important to know if you have the following symptoms:
Regurgitation
Regurgitation occurs in approximately 80% of GERD patients with varying degrees of severity. This is often described as a sense of fluid moving up and down in the chest or a sour taste in the mouth.
For infants, regurgitation is usual during their first years of life. As for adults, involuntary regurgitation is a common symptom of GERD and acid reflux. It can also be a symptom called rumination disorder, a rare condition for most people.
Water brash (Excessive saliva)
If you have GERD, you may experience a symptom called water brash. Sometimes doctors refer to water brash as hypersalivation, idiopathica, pyrosis, and acid brash. This occurs when you produce an immoderate amount of saliva that has risen to the throat because your saliva was mixed with stomach acids.
Having a water brash can result in heartburn, and you can even get a bad taste in your mouth. A study suggests people may produce excess saliva when they have GERD due to the present acid in the esophagus that activates the oesophagosalivary reflex. Researchers administered an acid or saline solution into the esophagus of 15 people to test this theory. They observed an increase in saliva production as an acid response.
Tinnitus
Research suggests that people suffering from GERD may develop tinnitus and other ear concerns more often than people who don’t have GERD. Tinnitus occurs when an external sound is absent when you hear ringing or other noises in your ear.
GERD can result in stomach acid that can reach your middle ear. This may be related to the development of tinnitus and hearing loss. Medications associated with GERD may also result in tinnitus and hearing loss.
Dysphagia
You may have Dysphagia if you have difficulties with swallowing which can be uncomfortable and result in other health problems. Scientists have estimated 18% of people have GERD with unusual Dysphagia, while 31% have usual Dysphagia. A 2020 study suggests that at least 48% of people will experience Dysphagia if they have GERD symptoms.
But scientists remain uncertain regarding the exact nature of the relationship between Dysphagia and GERD, as noted by the 2020 study. However, scientists have several theories on how this process might work. Their theories include: (1) Upper esophageal sphincter (UES) dysfunction; (2) Hypersensitivity to stomach acid; (3) Esophageal dysmotility; and (4) Esophageal narrowing or stricture.
Chest pain
According to the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), chest discomfort related to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is commonly known as noncardiac chest pain (NCCP). The ACG explains that chest pain coming from the heart is defined by NCCP, which can imitate angina pain.
NCCP and cardiac chest pain can show up behind your breastbone, making it difficult to distinguish between the two types of pain. Rather than reflux-related pain, chest pain involving the heart spreads to other parts of your body, such as your back, neck, shoulders, and the upper part of your left arm.
Hoarseness
A scratchy or raspy voice is caused by acid exasperating the vocal cords. The acid can also reach the upper airway as it flows back into the esophagus. The upper airway also includes the larynx, which can cause inflammation and irritation.
Aside from hoarseness, this can also cause throat pain, a change in the quality of the voice, a sensation of a lump in the throat, and throat pain. Since untreated GERD can result in serious complications, seeking medical attention is important.
Chronic cough
A persistent cough in which throat irritation from stomach aid may be the cause. Patients who show classic symptoms of cough and GERD often have GERD-related cough. Signs such as coughing after meals or nighttime coughs are associated with reflux-induced cough.
Likewise, when patients show a history of regurgitation, heartburn, and GERD, it is easier to determine GERD as a potential etiology. Additionally, it is difficult to diagnose a reflux-induced cough because it may not be accompanied by other common symptoms of GERD, such as regurgitation or heartburn.
Dental problems
A study from Norway discovered that young adults without GERD are less likely to have symptoms of dental erosion than those who have the disease. A 2013 meta-analysis reveals that researchers have acknowledged GERD as a cause of dental erosion since 1937, in which the evidence to support this discovery continues to grow.
Dental erosion is vulnerable to an acidic environment when it demineralizes and softens, slowly leaving sensitive parts of the exposed tooth. Suppose there’s a consistently higher acidity, like the case with regular reflux. In that case, your saliva can’t regulate the pH in the mouth to allow the process of returning minerals into the enamel after eating acidic foods.
Dizziness
This is a less common symptom that can be attributed to GERD. The tubes that are connected to the inner ear can be affected by acid refluxes into the upper GI system. You may expect swelling to occur that will cause a loss of balance when the tubes become irritated.
This occurrence of this symptom is more familiar with GERD when you’re lying down after a meal. Some research also shows a link between ear infections and GERD. If you experience frequent dizziness, it’s always best to discuss this with your doctor or a gastroenterologist.
