Ask a doctor - What is the most common symptom of GERD?

Q. What is the most common symptom of GERD?

Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.

Answered by Secondmedic Expert

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a very common digestive disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It often presents with unpleasant symptoms, such as heartburn, chest pain, hoarseness, dry cough and regurgitation. The most common symptom of GERD is heartburn—a burning sensation in your chest that can spread up to your throat. It usually occurs when the contents from the stomach backflows into the esophagus due to a weakened or defective lower esophageal sphincter muscle. Other symptoms may include feeling bloated or experiencing nausea after eating certain foods; having difficulty swallowing; belching; an acidic taste in your mouth; coughing and increased asthma attacks; bad breath and irritated throat from acid refluxing up through sinuses; fatigue caused by poor digestion of food entering the small intestine; uncomfortable sleep patterns due to lying down flat on one's back making it easier for stomach acids to reflux upward into one’s throat while sleeping; and weight loss if large portions of food are being thrown up during episodes of severe acid reflux. Treatments tend to vary depending on severity but may include dietary modifications, medications such as antacids or proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), lifestyle changes like avoiding specific beverages and foods thought to trigger GERD flares-ups, elevating head at night while sleeping so that gravity helps prevent acid reflux into the esophagus and even minimally invasive procedures such as fundoplication when needed.