Posted by Fatima Khalil
Wednesday, 08 February 2023 07:00 AM
GERD is one of the most common digestive problems worldwide. GERD or acid reflux occurs when stomach acids constantly flow back into the esophagus, which is the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. Acid reflux irritates the lining of the esophagus, also called the lower esophageal sphincter muscle. This, in turn, causes several symptoms that can be mitigated with natural remedies or need further intervention. In this report, we learn about early signs of GERD that should not be taken lightly, according to the “Times of India” website.
Heartburn
Heart is the most common symptom of acid reflux, characterized by a burning sensation in the chest just behind the sternum, and the painful sensation can travel from the lower part of the sternum to the throat.
It occurs when stomach acid moves up the lining of the esophagus, and this can last from several minutes to hours.
The return of food from the stomach to the esophagus
If you have GERD, you are likely to experience undigested food and stomach acid moving back up from your stomach into your esophagus. This can make you belch and can leave a sour taste in your mouth. Overeating, exercising right after a meal, or bending over after eating can all trigger these symptoms.
Dysphagia
Dysphagia is a medical term for when you find it difficult to swallow and it feels as if your food is getting stuck in your throat or chest.
Scar tissue and inflammation can narrow it, making it difficult to swallow any food.
Sore throat and hoarseness
Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. This can irritate the lining of the tube and vocal cords, resulting in a sore throat, dry cough, and wheezing. This may also result in a hoarse voice.
Chronic cough
A chronic cough is a cough that lasts for weeks. While it is not a typical symptom of gastroesophageal reflux, links between the two have been drawn through several studies.
Although it’s not clear what causes a cough in GERD, there are two possible theories. The first mechanism proposes that coughing occurs as a “reflexive action caused by the rise of stomach acid in the food pipe,” and the second theory claims that “reflux moves up the food pipe and causes small droplets of stomach acid to descend into the larynx. This type of reflux is known as pharyngeal-laryngeal reflux.” (LPR) may result LPR to the development of coughing as a protective mechanism against reflux.
