What are the Acid Reflux Disease Symptoms?
Acid reflux, or heartburn, is a common condition that nearly all of us will experience at one time or another. For most, this infrequent occurrence will be easily treated with over the counter antacids, and no other concern or investigation will be necessary. However, if you begin to suffer from frequent heartburn symptoms that occur two or more times a week, and if your symptoms are not effectively treated with over the counter medications, it may be time to see your doctor about the possibility that you are experiencing acid reflux disease symptoms.
While acid reflux disease is generally not a serious illness, some of the complications of the illness should be closely monitored by your doctor. This is why, if you think you have acid reflux disease symptoms, you should make an appointment with your doctor to find out for sure.
Symptoms to Watch Out for
There are a number of acid reflux disease symptoms to consider. The first is the frequent occurrence of heartburn. It is also important to note if your symptoms do not go away effectively with the use of over the counter antacids and H-2-receptor blockers like Zantac. These factors could be an indication of acid reflux disease symptoms, and should be examined further by your doctor. Another acid reflux disease symptom is a chronic sore throat. This could be the result of the stomach acids frequently backing up into the esophagus and throat area. Some people will experience hoarseness and coughing as well. These symptoms could indicate that some damage has occurred due to frequent exposure of the throat and esophagus from digestive acids coming back up. Your doctor should check for this damage, and take appropriate measures to allow it to heal if damage is indeed found.
Other acid reflux disease symptoms may include a bitter taste in the mouth. This is also from the food and stomach acids coming back up into this area. If material from the esophagus gets aspirated into the lungs, you might experience trouble breathing, coughing or wheezing. If you have asthma, you may notice that your asthma symptoms become more severe or harder to control. Sometimes an acid reflux disease symptom can include gum irritation and excessive saliva. This occurs when those acids make it all the way back to the throat and mouth on a regular basis. If you have experienced any of these acid reflux disease symptoms, it would be a good idea to make an appointment with your doctor for a definitive diagnosis of your digestive issues. While acid reflux disease is not necessarily a serious condition on its own, there are complications that can arise. Your doctor will be the best person to monitor and treat your acid reflux disease symptoms.