Acid reflux is a very common health problem that affects millions of people worldwide. It happens when the acids from the stomach go through the lower esophageal sphincter and reach the esophagus. The stomach contents are very acidic and would start causing erosion to the esophageal mucosa, and the symptoms and complications of acid reflux result from the interaction between the stomach acid and this susceptible tissue.
In this article, we will provide you with a detailed list of symptoms and explain why they appear and how to detect them. We will also explain how simple acid reflux symptoms may be confounded with severe health problems that would require urgent medical attention. In any event, if you have any doubt or question, do not hesitate to ask your physician.
Symptoms of acid reflux
The symptoms of acid reflux usually appear after a large meal, mainly if you lay down or go to bed closely after eating. This is why acid reflux usually happens at night, when people lay down for a longer time, allowing stomach acid to go upwards to the esophagus. The symptoms you could feel are as follows:
Heartburn
It is described as a burning pain going up to your throat, sometimes burning inside your chest around the midline. The severity of the symptoms is variable, but it doesn’t necessarily indicate the esophagus mucosa is suffering more harm. Your stomach lining is prepared to withstand the highly acidic contents continually secreted to its lumen, but your esophagus is not. Even a minimal amount of stomach acid leaking upwards is capable of hurting your esophageal mucosa, and prolonged exposure would inevitably cause a significant change in the cellular lining and severe complications.