Acid Reflux Symptoms You Should Know About

The Obvious and Not-So-Obvious Symptoms of Acid Reflux

In our previous two posts we answered the question, "What is acid reflux," and discussed the dangers that can arise if left untreated. Today we're going to take a look at some of the symptoms of acid reflux that can alert you to potential problems.

But aren't all acid reflux symptoms pretty obvious?

Not always. Some are more subtle and could be mistaken for something else, and some may not be detected at all.

The Most Obvious Acid Reflux Symptoms

For simplicity's sake, let's start with the most obvious symptoms of acid reflux.

Heartburn

Heartburn is, of course, the burning, sometimes sharp pain that you can feel deep in your chest. I've never had angina pains, which are symptoms of heart trouble, but apparently the feelings can be pretty similar.

What you're feeling with heartburn is the acid from your stomach coming into contact with the lining of your esophagus. This acid can eat away at the lining of your esophagus, causing tears, bleeding, and scarring.

Regurgitation

Another fairly obvious acid reflux symptom is regurgitation. This is when small amounts of acid, food, and other stomach contents actually make it back up into your mouth.

Difficulty in Swallowing

Finally, the last pretty obvious symptom of acid reflux is difficulty in swallowing. Because of prolonged exposure to stomach acid, the lining of the esophagus can develop scar tissue, and actually get smaller.

Either of these acid reflux symptoms, especially a severe case of heartburn, is hard to ignore. But as we also discussed in the previous post, there are other conditions and diseases that can be brought about by acid reflux where the symptoms aren't as obvious as massive heartburn.

Less Obvious Symptoms of Acid Reflux

As we discussed in the "Hidden Dangers of Acid Reflux," acid reflux can cause a host of potential problems including tooth decay, sinusitis and a variety of ear/nose/throat problems. Yet one study showed that less than half of patients who had ear/nose/throat problems caused by acid reflux, actually showed any of the classic symptoms of acid reflux disease.

Here is a list of the lesser known acid reflux symptoms...

Recurring Hoarseness

Acid that makes it into the throat and comes into contact with the vocal chords can actually damage the vocal chords causing hoarseness or raspiness.

Bad Breath

We've all got bad breath from time to time. Bad breath that's worse after you eat, or that gets better after taking antacid tablets may be attributable to acid reflux.

Repetitive Throat Clearing

This is yet another sign that acid reflux is forcing acid up into the throat.

Now that you know some of the apparent and subtle symptoms that cause acid reflux, hopefully you'll be better informed when it comes to analyzing your own symptoms, and talking to your doctor about treatments.

Acid Reflux Resources

The articles below served as the sources of information for this post.

Digestion and Bad Breath: Reflux May Be The Culprit

Reflux May Cause Sinusitis and Damage Teeth