Causes, Diagnosis and Symptoms of Acid Reflux
You have probably heard of acid reflux. Chances are you have experienced it at least once in your life. But what really is acid reflux? What are the symptoms of acid reflux and what are the common causes of it?
Acid reflux is a condition where the acids in your stomach that are needed for digestion flows back up in your esophagus. This happens when the sphincter between your esophagus and stomach loosens up or relaxes.
Some people regularly experience this because of the condition called GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease. Common causes of this are fatty foods, smoking cigarettes and drinking beverages that contain alcohol. Drinking caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea also triggers this. Obesity is also a contributing factor.
Some of the common symptoms of acid reflux are the following.
1. Heartburn or the burning sensation emanating from the stomach towards the chest area or the throat.
2. Chest pains that are sometimes mistaken for heart problems especially by those people who experience them for the first time.
3. Difficulty in swallowing food or even liquids.
4. Feeling of wanting to vomit or back flow of food.
5. Frequent coughing even if you are not ill.
For most, these symptoms of acid reflux don’t last long so they usually do not worry too much about it. But for others it could be so uncomfortable that the delivery of daily tasks is greatly affected. There are also others who experience these symptoms rather frequently that it leads to very serious anxiety. When this happens, a doctor’s advice must be immediately sought.
There are several things that a doctor can suggest to properly identify reasons for its occurrence. The doctor can advise further examinations like blood testing, gastroscopy or barium meal x-ray. These diagnostic procedures are meant to identify underlying health problems.
These signs and symptoms of acid reflux should not be taken lightly whether you experience them regularly or not. There is nothing wrong with having them checked by doctors so that intervention can be given early if there is a need to.
