What are the acid reflux symptoms?
What are the acid reflux symptoms?
It can be frustrating not knowing why your throat is sore, especially when not knowing the cause makes it harder to treat. Preventing the sore throat from coming back can also be tricky if you don’t know why it happened in the first place. One thing that might lead to a sore throat is acid reflux – but how can you know if that’s the cause of your sore throat?
Common acid reflux symptoms
Acid reflux is a condition where acid from the stomach travels up your throat, damaging the lining of your throat and mouth. It’s not clear what the exact cause of acid reflux is. However, sometimes it can flare up or get worse when eating certain foods and drinks, if you smoke, or if you’re suffering from stress or anxiety. Acid reflux often causes the following main symptoms[1].
- Heartburn
Acid reflux is known to cause heartburn – a burning feeling in the chest that’s caused by the acid’s movement up your throat. This feeling can be persistent, lasting from a few minutes up to a few hours at a time. Heartburn can sometimes move up your chest and into your mouth and throat, causing a sore throat.
Getting heartburn occasionally isn’t usually anything to worry about. However, if you get heartburn on most days for a period of three weeks or longer, you should speak to your doctor to find out if there’s something more serious causing it. You should also seek medical advice if your heartburn doesn’t go away with the help of over the counter medicines.
- A sour taste in your mouth
A sour, salty, acidic or bitter taste in the back of your mouth or throat is often associated with acid reflux. Put simply, it happens because you’re tasting the acid that has come up your throat from your stomach. You might also experience a sore, burning throat with the taste, which can make it difficult to swallow[2].
Some other possible symptoms you might experience include:
- Recurring hiccups or a cough that keeps coming back
- A hoarse voice
- Feeling sick or bloated
- Bad breath
Speak to your doctor if you’re concerned about any of your symptoms. They may be able to arrange tests to rule out more serious causes of heartburn and acid reflux – and they might also be able to prescribe stronger medicines that you can’t buy over the counter.
What does acid reflux feel like?
Acid reflux is common, but not everyone will have all the symptoms. You might experience heartburn, but no sour taste in the mouth, or vice versa. This can make it hard to tell if it is acid reflux or if something else is causing it. If you’re unsure, speaking to a doctor or pharmacist can help you to assess your symptoms and decide on a course of action.
Although different people have varying experiences of acid reflux, you’ll likely find that your symptoms get worse when you’re lying down, after eating or when you bend over. Conversely, you may find that your symptoms ease if you sit upright for at least three hours after eating, or if you raise the head of your bed to keep your head higher than your stomach.
For some people, heartburn will happen only occasionally, and their chest pain and sore throat might go away quickly. For others, it can last longer. If you’re worried about how long your sore throat lasts, speak to your doctor. They may be able to suggest a treatment to ease the pain, such as one of Ultra Chloraseptic’s soothing throat sprays, and they may be able to tell if something else is causing your sore throat.
Resources:
[1] https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heartburn-and-acid-reflux/
