GERD / Acid Reflux Symptoms

Although persistent heartburn is the most common symptom of GERD, other symptoms include:

• a sour or bitter liquid coming into in the mouth (also known as "regurgitation" or "water brash")
• difficulty swallowing or painful swallowing, especially with dry bread or poorly chewed food
• chest pain, which may be confused with the pain of a heart attack
• throat problems, such as laryngitis, sore throat, feeling of fullness in the throat, choking at night and altered voice
• lung problems, which might include wheezing, frequent pneumonia, damaged airways or chronic asthma.
• infants with GERD may fail to gain weight or develop more slowly or they may have recurrent respiratory problems

Understanding the causes of GERD is helped by understanding the normal protective mechanisms involved in preventing acid from refluxing into the esophagus. The lower esophageal sphincter must have sufficient length below the diaphragm and muscle tone to prevent the backwash of acid into the esophagus. The normal sphincter also must have normal episodes of relaxation, which does allow ingested air to be eliminated (i.e. belching).

A healthy esophagus should also be able to "clear" the acid by regular contractions and by neutralizing the acid with alkaline saliva. Additionally, the stomach must empty properly. If any of these mechanisms is altered or abnormal, then acid can wash back up into the esophagus and cause heartburn or other symptoms.