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Uncommon GERD Symptoms

The most common symptom of GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease, is heartburn that won't go away. There are several other symptoms that aren't as common that show up in GERD sufferers. Doctors are still researching the cause of many of the uncommon symptoms, but just knowing what they are can help with diagnosis and treatment.

  1. Time Frame

    • Some symptoms appear during or just after a meal. These include nausea, pain and difficulty swallowing, feeling like you're choking, coughing and chest pain. GERD can damage vocal cords, causing your voice to be hoarse. Hoarseness occurs mostly in the morning because laying down increases reflux. Symptoms can be relieved by figuring out what foods are eaten when they occur and by raising the head of your bed by 8 inches with wood blocks.

    Effects

    • Sometimes stomach acid reaches all the way to the salivary glands. This makes them fill the mouth with a salty, sour, bad tasting liquid. This can cause chronic bad breath. Medication is probably necessary to reduce the production of excess stomach acid and to keep it from reaching the esophagus.

    Misconceptions

    • Some people who have only occasional heartburn don't bother being tested for GERD. Many people with GERD aren't as sensitive as others to acid in the esophagus and don't notice it. Silent reflux is GERD with no symptoms. Lack of symptoms can be dangerous because the esophagus is being damaged and the risk of complications increases.

    Significance

    • Many GERD sufferers also have asthma symptoms. Researchers aren't sure whether GERD damage to the esophagus causes asthma or if asthma or asthma medication causes GERD symptoms. Whatever the case, 75 percent of people with asthma have GERD. Doctors look at GERD as the cause of asthma when asthma symptoms are worse after exercise, after eating, after laying down or at night. They suspect GERD when asthma doesn't begin until adulthood and when it doesn't respond to standard treatment.

    Types

    • Feeling constant tooth pain and suffering from tooth decay and gingivitis can be a symptom of GERD. When the stomach acid enters the mouth, it can damage teeth and gums. Chronic sinusitus and frequent pneumonia can also be symptoms of GERD.

    Considerations

    • Though lifestyle doesn't cause GERD, lifestyle changes can relieve symptoms. Avoiding alcohol, caffeine, fatty foods, chocolate, acidic foods, peppermint, spicy foods and carbonated beverages can help. You should definitely quit smoking if you have GERD, as it relaxes the muscle that allows stomach acid to enter the esophagus. Losing weight, eating meals 3 hours before you lay down, and eating smaller meals also help relieve symptoms of GERD.

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