Recognizing Acid Reflux Symptoms
The most common acid reflux symptoms are:
- A burning pain in the middle of your chest and a burning sensation that may travel up and down your neck (called heartburn)
- Regurgitation (repeating) of stomach contents and acid towards your mouth, sometimes causing a bitter, acid taste
In addition, some people may have:
- Bloating
- Nausea
- Bad breath
- A recurring cough
- Hiccups that won’t go away
- A hoarse voice
- A sore throat
- A need to constantly clear their throat
Heartburn and acid reflux symptoms can vary from person to person. Furthermore, there’s also significant overlap with other conditions.
For example, the chest pain in heartburn can resemble chest pain caused by heart disease. Indigestion can also cause heartburn, along with bloating and nausea, so it’s easy to confuse the two. A chronic cough resulting from GERD can also be caused by a lung condition.
This is why, if your symptoms persist despite lifestyle changes or medication, it’s important to see your doctor for an accurate diagnosis. An early diagnosis and treatment are key for preventing GERD complications.
How Long Does Acid Reflux Last?
An episode of acid reflux can last anywhere between a few minutes to several hours. How long an episode lasts can depend on various factors, from how severe the condition is to individual differences.
We might all get acid reflux and heartburn from time to time, and usually, it’s nothing to worry about. But, if you get acid reflux 3 times a week or more, or if it disrupts your daily life then this may signal a chronic condition called gastroesophageal disease (GERD).
There are different stages of GERD. Some experts stage it based on the frequency of flare-ups, into:
- Mild GERD (3 episodes a week or less)
- Moderate GERD (more than 3 times a week)
- Severe GERD (daily symptoms)
Causes of Acid Reflux
The causes behind acid reflux and GERD are complex.Sometimes, acid reflux can be caused by too much pressure from the stomach after a meal, either because you've eaten too much, or because the stomach doesn’t empty as it normally should. Issues with the muscle movement that typically helps food along your gastrointestinal tract after a meal can also contribute to acid reflux.
Other times, acid reflux occurs because a muscle inside your tummy doesn’t work as it should. The muscle is called the lower oesophageal sphincter, or LOS for short. It’s shaped like a ring that contracts or closes up after you eat to keep stomach acid and food contents down. When it relaxes too much, it doesn’t close up properly, so stomach acid and food contents escape, travelling back up towards your throat.
Several factors can influence how well the LOS works. For example, diet and lifestyle habits like eating very large, infrequent meals, smoking, or being overweight can all cause the LOS to loosen up. Increased pressure on the abdomen, for example, due to pregnancy or obesity, can also impact the LOS and cause reflux.
In more severe cases, what’s causing acid reflux symptoms is another underlying condition, like a hiatal hernia. Hiatal hernia occurs when part of your stomach pushes up into your chest. A hiatal hernia doesn’t necessarily cause any symptoms, but sometimes, it can affect the LOS muscle, causing acid reflux. See your doctor if you think you have a hiatal hernia and your symptoms have not improved after a couple of weeks, are severe, or are getting worse.
Finally, some people find that certain foods, like spicy foods or fatty foods, trigger their GERD symptoms because they affect the LOS.
Common Triggers of Acid Reflux
Foods and drinks that can over-relax the LES and therefore cause acid reflux symptoms include:
- Chocolate
- Spicy foods
- Fatty foods
- Acidic foods (like tomatoes and citrus fruit)
- Onions and garlic
- Peppermint
- Fizzy drinks
- Alcohol
- Coffee
Lifestyle factors that can trigger or raise your risk of acid reflux include:
- Stress
- Eating too late at night or too close to bedtime
- Lying down shortly after eating
- Eating large meals infrequently
- Smoking
- Being overweight
- Working night shifts or sedentary demanding jobs
- Lack of exercise
- Insufficient sleep
When it comes to heartburn, different people may have different triggers. The best way to manage your diet-induced symptoms is to keep an eye on what you eat and log it in a food diary.
Relief for acid reflux
Some simple lifestyle changes can offer some relief for acid reflux and heartburn. Try these tips to feel better:
- Loosen the belt - quite literally! Avoid wearing tight-fitting clothes around your waist, as these can put extra pressure on your tummy
- Eat smaller meals more often rather than large, infrequent ones
- Don’t bend over or lie down immediately after eating
- Sleep with your head elevated on a wedge or a block, or raise the head of the bed by 10-20 centimetres; don’t try to use pillows as these can trap the acid in your oesophagus, making your symptoms worse
- Sleep on your left side rather than your right
- Avoid your trigger foods
Over-the-counter treatments for acid reflux
Over-the-counter medications such as antacids and alginates can provide relief for acid reflux and heartburn.
Alginates contain alginic acid, which is made from seaweed. The alginic acid comes into contact with stomach acid, forming a “raft-like” layer that covers and keeps the stomach contents down. This prevents acid from refluxing and protects the lining of your oesophagus.
Antacids also offer relief for acid reflux.
If your symptoms don’t go away with antacids or alginates, your doctor or pharmacist may recommend H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) instead.
Natural remedies for acid reflux
A few acid reflux remedies are completely natural and can provide some relief. Some may be lying around the house or in your kitchen cupboard. Natural remedies for acid reflux include:
- Ginger, which has anti-inflammatory properties, can support good digestion and soothe the oesophagus. You can have it as tea, raw, or you can cook with it.
- Liquorice root, which may block an enzyme that helps create stomach acid. Try a liquorice root tea, or DGL – a processed liquorice root extract. Liquorice for acid reflux may help the stomach and oesophagus lining repair itself.
- Sodium bicarbonate, known popularly as bicarbonate soda or baking soda, is an antacid. It’s an active ingredient in many acid-neutralising medications. Be sure to speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking sodium bicarbonate for acid reflux, as overdosing can have serious side effects.
When to Consult an Acid Reflux Specialist
See your doctor if you experience heartburn and acid reflux symptoms 3 or more times a week or if your symptoms have not responded to lifestyle changes or over-the-counter medication.
You should also seek medical care if you have trouble swallowing, food gets stuck in your throat, you often feel sick, or have lost weight without wanting to.
If untreated, GERD can lead to complications, such as:
- Inflammation of your vocal cords (laryngitis)
- Inflammation and erosion of the oesophagus (oesophagitis)
- Lung problems (like asthma or an increased risk of pneumonia)
- Tooth decay and gum disease (due to the refluxed acid that attacks the teeth’s enamel and inflames the gums)
- Barrett’s oesophagus (a condition that raises the risk of oesophageal cancer)
However, these complications can be prevented with a timely diagnosis and early treatment.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve seen that acid reflux can last anywhere between minutes to several hours. We’ve also explored the mechanisms, causes and triggers behind this symptom, and the differences between acid reflux and the chronic condition called GERD.
To learn more, explore our articles: Can reflux acid cause my throat to burn? Remedies for acid reflux, and What medication can I take for GERD?
Explore our range of over-the-counter treatments for acid reflux, including Gaviscon and Guardium.
See a doctor if you’ve tried such treatments and they haven’t worked, if your symptoms persist, or if you have more severe symptoms like difficulty swallowing or unintentional weight loss.
