Heartburn Symptoms

GERD symptoms can occur at any time. However, they usually occur after overeating, or lying down after a big meal. Symptoms may last for a few minutes or a few hours. People who have possible symptoms of GERD should seek medical care.

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The most common symptoms of GERD include:

• Heartburn – a burning feeling that starts in the lower chest and may move up the throat
• Frequent, persistent, recurrent, or chronic indigestion. Symptoms of indigestion include:
  • Upper abdominal pain or discomfort following a meal
  • Burping, bloating, heartburn, nausea, and vomiting
• Regurgitation of stomach contents into the back of the mouth or throat
• Sour or bitter taste in the back of mouth or throat
• Symptoms worsen when bending over, lying down, exercising, or lifting heavy objects

Other symptoms of GERD may include:

• Sore throat or earache
• Bad breath
• Hoarseness
• Chronic cough
• Choking
• Wheezing or trouble breathing
• Insomnia
• Feeling of a lump in the throat
• Hoarse voice ( Laryngitis )
• Difficulty or painful swallowing
• Chest pain Note: GERD can feel like the pain associated with a heart attack. Do not assume that chest pain is GERD or indigestion. If you have chest pains or other symptoms of a possible heart attack, call 911 immediately for emergency medical care.
• Sleep apnea (stopping breathing repeatedly throughout the night)
• Recurrent vomiting or failure to thrive in infants

Long-term complications of GERD may include:

• Esophagitis – inflammation of the esophagus
• Bleeding and ulcers in the esophagus
• Dental problems (due to the effect of stomach acid on tooth enamel)
• Chronic laryngitis
• Asthma-Adult attacks and/or Pneumonia (During sleep, acid may reflux from the stomach into the throat, drain into the lungs, and cause irritation.)
• Barrett's Esophagus – a precancerous condition that can lead to esophageal cancer
• Esophageal Cancer – may develop in patients who have Barrett's esophagus