Have you every wondered if you have acid reflux? There are a few symptoms you can watch for, before visiting your doctor. Your esophagus is the muscle in your throat that gets the food from your throat into your stomach for digestion. Sometimes things work in reverse, and in that case stomach acids can come back up from your stomach into your esophagus. This can happen frequently or intermittently. Patients with acid reflux may go for weeks without experiencing symptoms, and then have a re-occurrence. It really depends on the individual, and the severity of the condition.
Achy Breaky Heart
Heartburn is not a pleasant feeling, and really has nothing to do with the heart, but is like the most recognized of the acid reflux symptoms. Although some heart conditions do present with the same burning sensation as heartburn. Heartburn got its name, because the burning sensation patients feel, occurs around the breastbone area. Heartburn can often be more severe with the consumption of several popular food and drinks, such as alcohol, chocolate, coffee, cola, tea, and many spicy or fatty foods.
Regurgitation Is For The Birds
While this is a handy trick if your a bird. As the parents of small birds, often regurgitate food for their young. It's not such a great thing when it happens involuntarily, and is another acid reflux symptom. It's when the stomach acids, and perhaps even small particles of food make it up from the stomach, past the esophagus, and right into the mouth. It's a bitter taste, that can be somewhat painful, and unpleasant.
And The List Goes On
There are a number of other acid reflux symptoms, such as nausea, breathing problems, tooth and gum deterioration and in instances where acid reflux goes on for long periods without being treated dysphagia, odynophegia, and even Barrett's Esophagus can occur. Breathing problems can occur as a result of foods being drawn into the lungs from the esophagus. Nasty acids traveling into the mouth can wreak havoc on your teeth and gums. Not to mention the vile taste of bile. Not so good for your breath either. Some more serious symptoms that arise after suffering for a long time with acid reflux, and not receiving treatment. Odynophagia, (sometimes called Dysphagia) makes it painful and difficult to swallow foods. Barrett's Esophagus is another result of constant acid reflux suffering. This one is particularly worrisome, as ten percent of those with Barrett's, will develop cancer.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, and suspect you have acid reflux, now would be a good time to see your family doctor. If you catch it early enough, there are many treatments readily available on the market they can prescribe.
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