Disclaimer: Human Health is not recommending any specific medical treatment for any particular symptom, nor providing any other medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor regarding any medical concern.

Acid reflux happens when acid from the stomach leaks up towards the throat, which can cause the sensation of ‘heartburn’, or a burning feeling in the upper chest.

What is acid reflux?

The esophagus is the muscular tube which connects the mouth and the stomach, through which food and liquid pass through. At the junction of the stomach and esophagus, there is a structure called the lower esophageal sphincter, which is designed to separate the contents of the stomach from the esophagus.

Sometimes, the lower esophageal sphincter doesn’t seal properly, which can allow the acidic stomach contents to travel upwards into the esophagus. Unlike the tissue that lines the stomach, the esophagus is not designed to withstand exposure to such acidic substances.

So, when stomach acid makes contact with the esophagus, it can cause irritation, and that can lead to the symptoms of acid reflux such as painful heartburn.

What are the symptoms of acid reflux?

Some common symptoms of acid reflux may include:

• Heartburn, or a burning pain behind the breastbone
• Taste of acid in the throat or mouth
• Hoarseness of the voice
• Sore throat, which may cause pain when swallowing
• Dry cough
• Nausea

There are a couple of things that can make the symptoms worse:

• Symptoms may worsen after eating, as the stomach produces more acid to help digest the food, and the sphincter has been open to allow food and liquid to pass through
• Positional changes such as bending over or lying down may make symptoms worse, as gravity can allow stomach acid to flow back into the throat easier in these positions, especially with a full stomach

Do you have symptoms of acid reflux?

The symptoms of acid reflux, whether mild or severe, can considerably impact everyday life. It may help to keep a record of your symptoms, so you can provide a clear picture to your doctor about how they have been affecting you.

Human Health is a free health tracking app designed to make it easy to track your symptoms and any treatments you may be taking, so that you can communicate better with your healthcare team and make informed and empowered decisions throughout your health journey.

Click here to download Human Health.

What causes acid reflux?

There are many factors that can influence the development of acid reflux, usually due to effects on the lower esophageal sphincter, or the acidity of the stomach contents.

• Smoking, because the chemicals in cigarettes may make the lower esophageal sphincter weaker
• Carrying extra weight, such as in pregnancy or other states of higher body mass, can put extra pressure on the stomach and abdomen, which may weaken the lower esophageal sphincter
• Certain hormones in pregnancy can also act as muscle relaxants, affecting the function of the lower esophageal sphincter
• Some infections in the stomach can cause the stomach to produce more acid
• Some acidic foods like tomatoes and citrus fruits, coffee, and fatty foods can increase the acidity of the stomach contents and can take longer to digest, which may trigger acid reflux

Are there any treatments for acid reflux?

Yes, there are treatments that can help to improve the symptoms of acid reflux. These may include:

• Proton pump inhibitors reduce stomach acid production, and include medications such as omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole (Nexium), and lansoprazole (Prevacid)
• Antacids are medications that neutralize stomach acid. Examples include Tums, Mylanta, Pepto-Bismol, and Rolaids
• Some antihistamines also reduce stomach acid production, including famotidine (Pepcid) and Cimetidine (Tagamet)

We hope this article has been helpful to you. If you think this information could help someone else, please share it with them. We’d love for our resources to reach those who need them.

Resources

UpToDate. Patient education: Acid reflux and GERD in adults (The Basics). Available at: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/acid-reflux-and-gerd-in-adults-the-basics

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