When you eat certain foods or lay down too quickly after eating, you risk having acid reflux. This occurs when the esophagus doesn’t completely close to the stomach and acid travels back up the esophagus. This can irritate the lining of your esophagus and cause pain and irritation. When this happens on a regular basis, it’s known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. It’s important to be able to identify the symptoms of GERD so that you can talk to your gastroenterologist about treatment and what lifestyle changes you might need to make to prevent it in the future.
Common Symptoms Associated With GERD
GERD has many symptoms that are similar to acid reflux, but they may happen on a more regular basis and might be more severe. It’s important that you’re able to identify these symptoms and get treatment before more damage is caused and complications occur. If you deal with this pain often, it can cause damage to your esophagus and cause issues that may need more severe treatment.
Common symptoms of GERD include:
- Burning sensation in the chest. This typically can occur after eating or laying down after eating.
- Regurgitation of food or the taste of sour liquid.
- Upper abdominal pain
- Chest pain
- Issues with swallowing
- The feeling of a lump in your throat
- Coughing
- Worsening asthma
- Inflammation of the vocal cords
If this happens often, it can be difficult to function, and you might find yourself not getting the quality sleep that you deserve. It can also be hard to feel comfortable eating when you’re dealing with constant pain and inflammation. It’s important that you discuss these symptoms with your gastroenterologist to find out how you can find relief and if you need to make any lifestyle changes.
Contact Your Gastroenterologist Today
Find out if the pain you’re dealing with is related to GERD. Contact your gastroenterologist to learn more about GERD and schedule your appointment today.