Acid Reflux Symptoms

 

Acid Reflux Symptoms in Adults:

While this condition comes with quite a large number of symptoms,

the most common ones are:

• Heartburn – is characterized as a burning sensation in the chest or in the upper central region of the abdomen, also known as Epigastrium. Often the pain appears in the chest and may sometimes encompass the neck, angle of the jaw or throat. Usually associated with gastric reflux, a major symptom of the Acid Reflux condition also know as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), it can also be an IHD (ischemic heart disease) symptom which can lead to misdiagnosis.

• Dysphagia – medical term for when you have difficulty swallowing. Even though it is classified as a symptom, it can also be a condition in and of  itself. When you suffer from dysphagia the sensation you get is that you have difficulty swallowing liquids or solids(water/food). Although it may seem similar to Odynophagia(see below) or globus, which is characterized as feeling a lump in the throat, it is distiguishable from these symptoms. If the dysphagia is untreated it can lead to apiration pneumonia(food or liquids going the wrong way, into the lungs), malnutrition, renal failure and dehydration.

• Regurgitation – characterized by the expulsion from the mouth, esophagus or pharynx of blood or undigested food.

Some of the less common symptoms of acid reflux include:

• Odynophagia – Pain when swallowing. It can lead to weight loss and can be caused by a number of factors, like ulcers, mucosal destruction, immune disorders, cancers, very hot or cold food and drinks, and motor disorders.

• Nausea – sensation of discomfort in the upper stomach accompanied by the involuntary urge to vomit.

• Chest pain – sometimes similar to that of myocardial infarction, can be mistaken with heart attack.

• Water Brash(Excessive salivation) – is the body’s natural response to heartburn. The saliva is slightly alkaline which means it acts similar to an antacid.

Acid Reflux Symptoms in Children:

In the case of children or infants Acid Reflux (GERD) can be difficult to

detect. The symptoms can be different to those typical for adults. In

children it can cause efortless spitting up, coughing, repeated vomiting

and some repiratory problems, belching, burping crying, inadequate

gain of weight or bad breath. There can be many symptoms in children

there is no universal symptom present in all children suffering from

Acid Reflux or in this case Pediatric Reflux.

The most common symptoms include:

• Frequent hiccups or burping

• Frequent sinus congestion or infection of the ear

• Infants find it difficult to burp after feeding

• Refusing to eat

• In some extreme cases, Acid Reflux can cause asthma, pneumonia and bronchitis if stomach contents are inhaled.

• Bad breath

• Very frequent bowel movements or constipation

• Gagging and choking

• Excessive vomiting

• Sudden crying or symptoms similar to colic.

It can also lead to weight loss in babies with persistent reflux, however it

is not true that all babies with acid reflux are underweight. While some

babies will develop past reflux, some of them will not only fail to develop

past it, their condition worsening when achieving developmental

milestones like viral illness, weaning or teething.