Symptoms of GERD in Women

GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is a medical condition related to heartburn. However, GERD is chronic, and it interferes with your normal activities. Women who are overweight, smoke or are pregnant are more likely than others to experience symptoms of GERD. According to the Mayo Clinic and the National Library of Medicine, symptoms of GERD in women include pain and a bad taste in the mouth.

Cough

• GERD may cause you to cough or have a dry throat, and drinking large amounts of water or soda can worsen symptoms of GERD by overloading your stomach beyond its capacity.

Insomnia

• You may have trouble falling asleep at night due to GERD, especially if you are pregnant. Pregnancy can worsen the symptoms of GERD by constricting your stomach.

Pain

• You may experience pain in your throat or chest. Women experiencing chest pain that becomes severe should seek urgent medical attention as the symptoms could be a heart attack rather than GERD.

Sore Throat

• Frequent back washes of acid into your throat caused by GERD can make your throat feel sore and cause difficulty with swallowing food and beverages.

Sour Taste

• You may experience a sour or acidic taste in your mouth, which is a symptom of GERD that may be made worse by eating acidic or caffeinated foods such as chocolate.

Wheezing

• Acid from your stomach that results from GERD may irritate your breathing passages, resulting in difficulty breathing and symptoms of wheezing.