From the Guidelines
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms typically include heartburn, regurgitation of stomach contents, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, and a feeling of a lump in the throat, as well as extraesophageal symptoms like chronic cough, hoarseness, sore throat, bad breath, nausea, and dental erosion, as noted in the most recent study 1. The symptoms of GERD can be categorized into typical esophageal symptoms and extraesophageal symptoms. Typical esophageal symptoms include:
- Heartburn (a burning sensation in the chest)
- Regurgitation of stomach contents into the throat or mouth
- Difficulty swallowing
- Chest pain
- A feeling of a lump in the throat Extraesophageal symptoms may include:
- Chronic cough
- Hoarseness
- Sore throat
- Bad breath
- Nausea
- Dental erosion These symptoms occur when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus due to weakening of the lower esophageal sphincter, causing irritation of the esophageal lining, as explained in 1. For immediate relief, over-the-counter medications like antacids, H2 blockers, or proton pump inhibitors can help, as recommended in 1. Lifestyle modifications are equally important, including:
- Avoiding trigger foods (spicy, fatty, acidic foods, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol)
- Eating smaller meals
- Not lying down for 2-3 hours after eating
- Elevating the head of the bed 6-8 inches
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Quitting smoking
- Wearing loose clothing If symptoms persist beyond two weeks despite these measures, or if you experience severe chest pain, difficulty swallowing, unexplained weight loss, or vomiting blood, seek medical attention promptly as these could indicate complications requiring further evaluation, as advised in 1.
From the Research
Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
The symptoms of GERD can be grouped into typical, atypical, and extra-esophageal symptoms. The most specific symptoms for GERD are:
- Acid regurgitation
- Heartburn 2 Other symptoms may include:
- Erosive esophagitis
- Peptic stricture
- Barrett's esophagus
- Esophageal adenocarcinoma
- Pulmonary disease 2
Lifestyle Factors and GERD Symptoms
Lifestyle factors such as obesity and tobacco smoking can exacerbate GERD symptoms 3. Weight loss and tobacco smoking cessation have been shown to decrease reflux symptoms:
- Weight loss: decreased time with esophageal acid exposure and reduced reflux symptoms 3
- Tobacco smoking cessation: reduced reflux symptoms in normal-weight individuals 3 Avoiding late evening meals and head-of-the-bed elevation can also be effective in reducing nocturnal GERD symptoms 3
Dietary Factors and GERD
Dietary modification is considered first-line therapy for GERD, but the role of diet in the pathogenesis and management of GERD is still not fully understood 4. Certain trigger foods may exacerbate symptoms, while following specific diets may decrease reflux symptoms: