Acid Reflux Disease Symptoms

Acid Reflux disease (medically known as "Gastroesophageal reflux disease" or "GERD") is a problem which plagues many people worldwide and makes it uncomfortable to eat certain types of foods. The issue comes as a result of "mucosal damage caused by abnormal reflux in the esophagus". It is normally due to a hiatus hernia, transiet lower esophageal sphincter relaxation or impaired expulsion of gastric reflux from the esophagus. The acid reflux can reach the throat resulting in what is called "laryngopharyngeal reflux disease". the condition can affect both children and adults. It's known to cause serious complications if this troublesome condition is not addressed early and appropriately. Read on here to find the identifying symptoms for GERD for yourself or your young ones as well as what problems that acid reflux can cause.

Acid reflux can be identified by different symptoms based on the age of a person. Adults with GERD generally have heartburn, regurgitation and difficulty swallowing. Other symptoms can include pain when swallowing, excessive salivation, and nausea. Adults may also experience a constant nagging cough, recurrent ear infections, asthma, hoarseness, laryngitis and erosion of the dental enamel. Some of the problems and conditions that GERD can cause in adults include: Reflux esophagitis—necrosis, Esophageal strictures, and a rare form of cancer known as "Esophageal adenocarcinoma". It is recommended any adult who believes they suffer from persistent and troublesome acid reflux consult their physician to take appropriate steps in preventing serious damage to the esophagus.

Children or infants tend to be harder to detect the GERD disease or complication in as compared to adults. Familydoctor.org has suggested that as many as 4 million babies each year, or 35% of those born, suffer from GERD in their early months of life, but outgrow the condition by their first birthday. A family history of the disease increases the risks for a child or infant to have it as well. Symptoms to look for in infants and young children include: failure to gain appropriate weight, constant crying that can't be consoled, repeated vomitting, spitting up with no effort, coughing, bad breath and refusing food. As mentioned before many of these symptoms may look like normal infant behavior or be caused by something besides GERD. There's no single symptom that is universal in all children who have GERD and some children may have just one symptom or several together. There's also "silent reflux" which some infants have that involves no vomitting at all. It's believed this causes twice as much pain and damage as normal acid reflux does.

Identifying the symptoms of acid reflux in yourself or child is imperative to appropriately addressing and reducing or eliminating the effects of acid reflux disease. As always, make sure to consult your family physician for yourself or child in order to determine the best approach in handling the effects of GERD.

Also see Pet Dog Nation for a discussion of Acid Reflux Disease in Dogs