Symptoms
The main symptoms of
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) include:
- Persistent heartburn. Heartburn is an
uncomfortable feeling or burning pain behind the breastbone. It may occur after
you eat, soon after you lie down, or when you bend forward.
- A sour or bitter taste in the mouth. The backflow
of
into the esophagus may cause this sour or bitter taste.
Heartburn caused by GERD is
usually felt within 2 hours after you eat. If your heartburn lasts for several
hours—for example, all night—you may have severe GERD. Some people
have GERD without heartburn.
Other symptoms of GERD may include:
- Chest pain. This may be a dull, heavy
discomfort that spreads across the chest. This chest pain may occur with
heartburn and may be confused with the pain of a heart attack. For more
information on chest pain and heart attack, see the topic
Chest Problems.
- Hoarseness.
- Trouble swallowing. This is
more common with advanced GERD.
- A feeling that you have something
stuck in your throat.
- A cough.
- Having extra saliva.
- Nausea.