The Most Common Symptom Of GERD - Heartburn

What is the most common symptom of GERD? Heartburn, without a doubt. In fact many people are experiencing GERD, also known as acid reflux syndrome, on a daily basis. It can even start as early as infancy.

In this article, we will discuss the most common symptom of GERD -- heartburn.

GERD occurs because a backflow of acid from the stomach enters into the esophagus. This will cause a burning sensation to occur, and also pain will be experienced. Usually the pain will be occur in the chest, directly below the breastbone or near the sternum.

Heartburn and acid reflux can also lead to vomiting because there is too much gastric acid that is built up in the esophagus or the stomach.

The pain felt from heartburn may start in the chest and eventually radiate to the neck, throat, or even into the jaw. Many people who experience intense heartburn say that there is a feeling of sourness in the back of the mouth. Another common symptom is chronic coughing and is usually a direct result of heartburn.

You would think that heartburn was related to the heart, but actually it isn't. The only reason why it is called this is because the burning sensation located in your chest is near the heart. The reason for this confusion is that there are similar sensations that you may experience from various heart problems that will feel like heartburn.

Usually, to diagnose a symptom and see how extreme it is, a probe will be placed into the esophagus to record the acidity levels that are contained in the lower esophagus. Naturally, it is normal to find a certain level of acidity, but what doctors are looking for is more extreme levels before they can say for certainty that GERD is what you have.

In some cases, the patient will be x-rayed to determine the extent of their acid reflux. A barium solution is consumed by the patient and if there is a reflux of a solution into the esophagus, there is a high probability that Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease has occurred.

There is no denying that the most common symptom of GERD is heartburn. There are variety of ways of treating it, from simply staying away from foods high in acid to using medications and altering your lifestyle. The key is trying different techniques and finding what works best for your particular situation.