Acid Reflux Symptom
When the lower sphincter muscle in the esophagus fails to function properly, stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, and this may indicate that you have GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), resulting in heartburn that cries out for relief. If the upper sphincter muscle malfunctions, the acid flows back into the esophagus and enters the voice box and throat. This form of acid reflux is known as LPR (laryngopharyngeal) reflux.
As part of your heartburn diet, avoid greasy food and citrus fruits or juices, and eat several small, light meals rather than three larger ones. Wait for two or three hours after you eat before reclining or taking a nap, along with exercising, stooping or bending. Keep a food diary for seven days and record what you have to eat and when you experience acid reflux to pinpoint the foods you should avoid.
Foods that are considered safe for those on an acid reflux diet include apples, bananas, baked potato, cabbage, broccoli, carrots, peas, green beans, skinless chicken breast, extra-lean ground beef, London broil, egg whites, feta or goat cheese, fat-free cream cheese and sour cream, low-fat salad dressing, baked potato chips and fat-free cookies.
What you should know about LPR
If the acid reflux doesn’t irritate the esophagus but collects in the throat, you may not experience heartburn. In this case, symptoms of acid reflux include ongoing throat irritation and frequent clearing of the throat, excessive phlegm and coughing, hoarseness, problems in swallowing, post nasal drip, a weak, cracking voice, wheezing, and spasms of the voice box.
To reduce your acid reflux symptoms, begin dieting if you are overweight, and stop smoking if you have that addiction. You can also use a wedge pillow in bed, or elevate the head about 6 or 8 inches with blocks, and avoid clothing that binds you around the waist.
If you take medications to treat a cardiovascular condition, asthma, arthritis, osteoporosis or inflammation, they may cause or add to your acid reflux problem. See if your physician can suggest an alternative drug with less harmful side effects.
Acid reflux symptoms may become serious
Always contact your doctor if you experience any chest pain, difficulty in swallowing, dark, tarry stool, unusual weight loss, shortness of breath, a choking sensation, an acid reflux cough or hoarseness. This can be a sign that a more serious condition is present.
Acid reflux and pregnancy
Many women with no previous history experience acid reflux when they become pregnant, and the condition frequently becomes worse. This is not at all unusual, and while it may be both annoying and painful, it is totally harmless as a rule. Their hormone levels change frequently, and this affects their ability to tolerate and digest certain foods. Progesterone, a hormone that impedes digestion, relaxes the lower sphincter in the esophagus, which leads to acid reflux. (This can also happen if the abdomen is crowded by the fetus.) With the help of an obstetrician, they can develop a plan to cope with the problem.