The symptoms of acid reflux seem to vary greatly between individuals. They range from mild discomfort in the chest through to crippling pain in the torso, throat, and mouth. As usual with any of these things, it’s always best to get any strange symptoms checked with your doctor – don’t rely on “Dr Google”. Pains in the chest could signal a number of different conditions, from trivial to serious, or, in my case could simply be brought on by the mere thought that I could have a serious disease, from which I will die imminently.
In the UK, the NHS lists a number of symptoms for acid reflux/heartburn, here.
Individual Symptoms of Acid Reflux
Individual symptoms of acid reflux include:
- Pain in the Chest – this can be unspecific or very localized. In my case, I often get pain in the lower right of my chest – just under my right breast. This is where the stomach joins the esophagus, and where, I can imagine, the stomach acid is hitting the unprotected surface of the esophagus.
- Sore throat – this can be accompanied by difficulty in swallowing at times and a hoarseness which can affect speech. From what I have read this is the acid reaching the throat and the vocal chords. Frequently I have a sore throat and A says my voice seems to go up an octave – probably partly because of the frustrations I feel about the serial incompetence of our government, but no doubt also as a result of acid reflux. At those times I tend to shut up to give my chords a rest (and everybody else within earshot).
- Burning in the mouth, and tongue, and tingling on the lips – This is one of my strongest indicators and has me reaching for the chewing gum or Rennies without fail. The only exceptions to this are when I’ve misjudged the amount of curry paste I’ve put into a chicken korma (despite everything I’ve read, curries, which by definition contain spices, seem not to have any real effect – positive or negative – on my acid reflux, as long as they are mild. That’s not to say they won’t affect you, though), and when I drink peppermint tea.
- Stinging eyes – I’ve not come across this as one of the symptoms of acid reflux so far, but it often accompanies a reflux attack with me.
- Cold nostrils – this sounds a bit bizarre, but it’s the only way I can describe it. It’s as though I’ve had a menthol sweet – if you’ve ever experienced that – where you’re breathing out super cool air. I’m not sure why this happens, and I’ll have to look into it more.
- Cough, asthma, nausea – these are all quoted symptoms from other sources, but I don’t get them. You may.
How do your symptoms compare with these?