If you experience a sour taste in your mouth, a lot of gas, heartburn, or the feeling that you just threw up a little bit in your mouth, you may attribute it to acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
This is a reasonable guess.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a more chronic condition that may result from recurring acid reflux over time, is quite common: 783.95 million people worldwide in 2019, data show Have gastroesophageal reflux disease.
But despite how many of us have acid reflux and how well we understand some of its symptoms, it also has some lesser-known side effects, according to gastroenterologists. Here’s what else to look for:
1. Ear pressure
Your ears may be more likely to become sore when you lie down, and here’s why: Refluxed material is present in the esophageal pool at the top of the throat, where tubes connect the nasopharynx to each ear. Inflammation from reflux can increase pressure in these ducts, causing a feeling of fullness or blockage in the ears.
Other related symptoms include earache, tinnitus, and hearing loss.
2. Difficulty breathing
Likewise, acid can enter and disrupt your airways. The proximity of the esophagus and respiratory system is why acid reflux sometimes causes difficulty breathing.
Acid can cause infection or inflammation, which can lead to shortness of breath.
Another factor to note is that acid reflux is common in people with asthma. They may develop a chronic cough, chest pain, and difficulty breathing.
The key to knowing whether acid reflux is triggering your asthma is to take antacid medications, such as Nexium and Priolosec, and see if this reduces your symptoms.
3. Tooth and mouth problems
More specifically, tooth sensitivity and corrosion, sour taste, and bad breath. These problems may be caused by direct contact of acid with the mouth.
Acid can be a powerful, overwhelming force. Saliva protects teeth by buffering acids and providing materials needed for tooth remineralization, and stomach acid has the ability to overcome these defenses and affect both pediatric and adult patients.
4. Chest pain
First, it’s important to note that chest pain can have many causes. We always want to rule out scary, life-threatening conditions like a heart attack first. Lung problems and chest wall inflammation should be addressed next.
When these are ruled out, we consider whether the chest pain is a sign of uncontrolled acid reflux, which may require further investigation with an upper endoscopy.
In fact, gastroesophageal reflux disease does often cause chest pain. Approximately 50% to 60% of noncardiac chest pain can be attributed to this condition.
So, how does acid reflux cause chest pain? As with other side effects, the acid can cause chest pain (which may also radiate to the neck, throat, and jaw) as it moves up the esophagus.
