Do you often experience a sour taste in your mouth with a burning feeling in your chest and down to your throat? It could be a symptom of GERD. Krecognize what the symptoms of GERD are and the steps to deal with them.
GERD (gastroesophageal refflux disease) or acid reflux disease is caused by a weakening of the valve or sphincter located in the lower esophagus.
Normally, this valve opens to allow food and drink to enter the stomach and be digested. After food or drink enters the stomach, this valve will be closed tightly to prevent stomach contents back up into the esophagus.
But in people with GERD, this valve weakens, so it can't close properly. This causes the stomach contents containing food and stomach acid to rise up into the esophagus.
If this condition occurs continuously, the lining of the esophagus will become irritated until it becomes inflamed and eventually becomes weak.
Common Symptoms of GERD
Symptoms that usually occur when stomach acid rises are a sour or bitter taste in the mouth and a burning or burning sensation in the chest and solar plexus. Both of these symptoms will usually get worse when the sufferer bends down, lies down, or after eating.
Apart from sour taste in the mouth and heartburn, other symptoms that can accompany GERD are:
- Difficulty swallowing or a feeling like a lump in the throat.
- Respiratory problems, such as coughing and shortness of breath. People who have asthma will often relapse when GERD symptoms recur.
- Hoarseness.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Sore throat.
- Unconscious discharge of gastric contents.
- Sleep disturbances.
- Tooth decay due to frequent exposure to stomach acid.
- Bad breath.
It is important to know that the symptoms of GERD are sometimes confused with a heart attack, as they both cause a burning sensation in the chest and heartburn. However, the symptoms of these two diseases can be distinguished.
Heartburn or chest pain due to a heart attack is usually very severe, radiates to the arms, neck, or jaw, and usually occurs after physical activity.
Meanwhile, heartburn due to GERD symptoms is generally accompanied by a sour taste in the mouth, is not aggravated by physical activity, does not spread to the arms or neck, and feels worse when lying down.
How to Overcome GERD
To treat the symptoms of GERD, you can take the following classes of drugs:
- Antacids.
- H-2 receptor blockers, as cimetidine, famotidine, and ranitidine.
- Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as lansoprazole and omeprazole.
To determine which type of drug is suitable and appropriate to use to treat GERD, you need to consult a doctor first.
In addition to taking some of the drugs above, it is also important to make lifestyle changes so that GERD symptoms do not recur. The changes in question are:
- Lose weight, if you are overweight.
- Do not smoke.
- Elevate your head while sleeping.
- Not lying down or sleeping for at least 2 to 3 hours after eating.
- Avoid foods or drinks that trigger stomach acid to rise, such as alcohol, milk, spicy and fatty foods, chocolate, mint, and coffee.
- Don't wear clothes that are too tight.
Actually, everyone can experience symptoms of acid reflux, especially after eating large amounts, eating late at night, or eating foods that trigger the production of stomach acid. Acid reflux is said to be a disease if these symptoms appear at least 2 times a week.
In order not to cause more severe complications, it is important to recognize the symptoms of GERD and take steps to treat it early to overcome it. However, you need to consult a doctor immediately if GERD symptoms occur continuously and do not improve.
In addition, if the chest pain or heartburn that is felt spreads to the jaw and arms accompanied by shortness of breath and cold sweat, immediately go to the ER to get further treatment. These symptoms could indicate a heart attack.