Recognizing A Reflux Disease Symptom

If you do not know what any of the reflux disease symptoms are it is very hard to recognize and treat. Reflux disease can be classified as chronic heartburn and is a common problem in adults and children. It is a condition where the patient experiences heartburn symptoms at least two or three times per week and reflux is painful.

While there are medical tests that can be used to diagnose reflux disease, most doctors will make a diagnosis based on the reflux disease symptoms the patient is complaining of. That’s why it is so important to know how to recognize reflux disease symptoms, so you can get in for a diagnosis and reflux disease treatment as soon as possible.

To understand the reason behind reflux disease symptoms, it helps to know why the condition occurs in the first place. At the base of the esophagus, there is a muscle known as the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES. This muscle opens the base of the esophagus to allow food to pass through into the stomach. Then it closes again, so that food and powerful digestive acids cannot come back into the esophagus and damage its delicate lining. When the muscle doesn’t work properly, food and acid go back into the esophagus, causing reflux disease symptoms that become all too familiar to those who suffer with this condition regularly.

Reflux Disease Symptoms

If you have ever suffered with the occasional bout of heartburn, you have some idea what reflux disease symptoms feel like. The most common reflux disease symptom is painful burning in the chest. Many people mistaken heartburn for a heart attack, because the pain can get so intense. In the case of heartburn, the onset of the pain is usually after a big meal and can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. The pain will often get worse if you bend over or lie down. In some cases, the pain will also radiate up into the throat.

Another common reflux disease symptom is a sour taste in the mouth that often accompanies the chest pain. This symptom is due to the back up of food and acids that move up from the esophagus into the back of the throat. Reflux disease symptoms like difficulty swallowing, a chronic cough, hoarseness or a feeling like a lump in the back of the throat may indicate the disease is taking its toll on the lining of the esophagus and the back of the throat. In these situations, a doctor will generally recommend a medication to stop the damage and allow time for the esophagus to heal.

By learning to recognize a reflux disease symptom, you will be more likely to head to the doctor for a diagnosis and treatment plan. If you experience reflux disease symptoms like these at least twice a week, it is advisable that you visit your doctor so as to reduce further problems that may arise.