Most people experience acid reflux now and then. It often happens soon after eating a big meal or upon lying down. You may feel some indigestion or heartburn in your chest and throat. You may also have a salty, sour taste in your mouth.

Normally, the muscle at the entrance to your stomach (known as the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES) closes as soon as food passes through it when you swallow. However, if it doesn’t close all the way or it opens too often, acid from your stomach can move up into your esophagus and throat. This backwash of acid moving between the stomach and mouth is what causes the unpleasant symptoms of acid reflux.

Acid reflux can be annoying, but it usually goes away on its own or by taking an over-the-counter antacid. If acid reflux symptoms happen two or more times a week, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic condition that occurs when stomach contents leak into the esophagus, causing irritation and other symptoms.

“Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a more serious form of acid reflux because it causes stomach acid to repeatedly flow back up into the esophagus,” according to Atif Saleem, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Texas Health Digestive Specialists, a Texas Health Physicians Group practice, and on the medical staff at Texas Health Plano. “Over time, GERD results in changes in the esophagus or to the surrounding area outside the esophagus. When changes occur external to the esophagus, we call it extraesophageal reflux, or EER.”

Because GERD can irritate the lining of the esophagus and cause other damage to your digestive system, it’s important to address ongoing symptoms.

GERD Symptoms to Look Out For

• A burning sensation (heartburn) in the chest that usually happens after eating
• Heartburn that gets worse at night or while lying down
• Backwash of food or sour liquid in the throat (regurgitation)
• Upper belly or chest pain
• Trouble swallowing (dysphagia)
• Sensation of a lump in the throat
• Bloating
• Salty taste in the mouth

If you have nighttime reflux, you also might experience:

• An ongoing cough
• Inflammation of the vocal cords (laryngitis)
• New or worsening asthma

If you have EER, your additional symptoms might include:

• Throat pain
• Chronic throat clearing
• Enamel erosion in the teeth
• Hoarseness
• Sinusitis/postnasal drip

According to the National Institutes of Health, some 15 million Americans experience GERD symptoms every day — about 20 percent of the adult population — making it the most common gastrointestinal-related diagnosis made by physicians.

Common GERD Culprits

• Eating large meals or lying down right after a meal
• Being overweight or obese
• Eating a heavy meal followed by lying on your back or bending over at the waist
• Snacking close to bedtime
• Eating certain foods, such as citrus, tomato, chocolate, mint, garlic, onions, or spicy or fatty foods
• Drinking certain beverages, such as alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee, or tea
• Smoking
• Being pregnant
• Taking aspirin, ibuprofen, certain muscle relaxers, or blood pressure medications

A gastroenterologist may be able to diagnosis GERD based on a physical examination and review of your history of symptoms. If measures like lifestyle changes or the use of antacids or acid-blocking medications don’t help bring relief, or you have frequent or severe symptoms, tests may be ordered to confirm a diagnosis and check for other problems.

“An upper endoscopy is the gold standard in testing for reflux disease,” Saleem says. An upper endoscopy helps provide a view of the inside of the esophagus and stomach to look for inflammation or other complications, such as esophagitis, stricture, pre-malignant Barrett’s

esophagus, and a more serious esophageal malignancy. An endoscopy also can be used to collect a sample of tissue to be tested for complications. In some instances, if a narrowing is seen in the esophagus, it can be stretched or dilated during the procedure to improve trouble swallowing.

Reflux disease is often treatable when diagnosed early, according to the American Gastroenterological Association. “The issue is that GERD can be a silent killer,” Saleem warns. “If put off for years, it can lead to some very serious stuff like precancerous Barrett’s esophagus or esophageal cancer. GERD is a progressive disorder that will not resolve or go away on its own.”

Texas Health offers a network of digestive health specialists to help assess and treat reflux disease. Find a gastroenterologist near you at TexasHealth.org.