How Do I Know if It's Acid Reflux?

Medically Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev on June 13, 2024
Written by Annie Stuart
9 min read

Lots of people are familiar with acid reflux symptoms, as more than 60 million Americans have them at least once a month. They include stomach discomfort after you eat and the burning feeling in your throat or chest, known as heartburn. 

The problem starts at the place where your esophagus (the tube between your stomach and throat) connects to your stomach. You have a muscular valve there called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Its job is to keep stomach acid in your stomach. But if this valve doesn’t work well, the acid can go back up into your esophagus. That’s reflux.

Although acid reflux is extremely common and rarely serious, don't ignore your symptoms. Making a few lifestyle changes and using over-the-counter antacids are often all you need to control them.

Acid reflux vs. heartburn

Heartburn is not a condition but a common symptom of acid reflux.

Acid reflux vs. indigestion

Indigestion, sometimes called dyspepsia,is a broad term used to describe discomfort or belly pain after you eat. Reflux is one of the many causes of indigestion.

Acid reflux vs. GERD

When you have reflux once in a while, it's not considered a disease. But when you have heartburn more than twice a week for several weeks, it's called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). 

Some of the most common symptoms are:

Heartburn. Also called acid indigestion, this burning pain or discomfort can move up from your stomach to the middle of your abdomen and chest. You can also feel it in your throat. Despite its name, heartburn doesn't affect your heart.

Regurgitation. Another common symptom is regurgitation, which is the sensation of acid backing up into your throat or mouth. Regurgitation can produce a sour or bitter taste, and you may experience "wet burps."

Dyspepsia. Many people with acid reflux have dyspepsia, commonly called indigestion. Dyspepsia can include:

  • Burping
  • Nausea after eating
  • Stomach fullness or bloating
  • Upper belly pain and discomfort

Acid reflux chest pain. When you have pain in your esophagus, you might feel it in your chest. That's because esophagus pain and heart pain involve the same nerves. Unlike heartburn, it doesn't feel like burning.

Dysphagia. This means trouble swallowing. It can happen when your throat is repeatedly exposed to stomach acids.

Reflux and GERD can also cause: 

Globus sensation. This is when you feel like you have a lump in your throat or have a feeling of fullness there. You might clear your throat repeatedly. It happens due to irritation from stomach acid.

Chronic cough. Especially if you get reflux at night, you may have a dry cough. 

Hoarseness. Hoarseness (laryngitis) may result frominflammation of your vocal cords.

Bad breath. When stomach acid or contents wash back into your throat, it can make your breath smell bad.

Is breathing difficulty a sign of acid reflux?

Stomach acid in your airways makes them contract or narrow, which could cause shortness of breath or wheezing.

Sometimes, people confuse the symptoms of heart attack with those of acid reflux. That's because pain in the chest can feel like heartburn. When in doubt, call your doctor.

Call 911 if you have any of these symptoms of heart attack:

  • Chest pain, pressure, or fullness that lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back
  • Pain or discomfort in your neck, shoulder, upper back, or jaw
  • Shortness of breath, with or without chest pain
  • Dizziness, lightheadedness, or nausea
  • Sweating along with chest pain

Symptoms most often happen:

  • After you eat a heavy meal
  • When you bend over or lift an object
  • When you're lying down, especially on your back

People who have frequent acid reflux symptoms most often get them at night. Nighttime GERD also produces the most severe pain. But the level of pain doesn't always indicate the level of damage to your esophagus.

Foods that worsen acid reflux symptoms

Certain foods can make symptoms worse for some people. To lessen your symptoms, try avoiding:

  • Citrus fruits
  • Chocolate
  • Caffeinated drinks or alcohol
  • Spicy, fatty, or fried foods
  • Garlic and onions
  • Peppermint
  • Tomatoes

Lifestyle habits that worsen acid reflux symptoms

Habits that can make reflux worse include:

  • Eating big meals or lots of fatty foods
  • Eating late at night
  • Drinking coffee or alcohol
  • Smoking
  • Taking medications that may irritate the stomach, such as aspirin
  • Wearing tight-fitting clothes

Health conditions that worsen acid reflux symptoms

Among the conditions that can cause reflux or make it worse are:

Obesity. Extra weight in your belly area puts more pressure on your LES, the valve between your stomach and esophagus.

Hiatal hernia. You get this type of hernia when the top of your stomach bulges up above your diaphragm, the muscle below your lungs that helps you breathe. This squeezes your stomach and may cause acid to back up.

Pregnancy. Increased hormones and pressure from a growing fetus can combine to produce this symptom.

Connective tissue disorders. Conditions such as scleroderma can damage your esophagus, leading to reflux and GERD.

Medications that can aggravate acid reflux symptoms

Some medicines can make symptoms worse, often because they relax your LES. They include:

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen
  • Calcium channel blockers, used for high blood pressure
  • Tricyclic antidepressants
  • Benzodiazepines, used to treat anxiety and seizures
  • Hormone replacement therapy for menopause symptoms
  • Theophylline, which treats asthma

Reflux symptoms usually cause no complications, especially if you just get them once in a while. But untreated GERD could lead to:

Worn tooth enamel. Over time, stomach acid can eat away at the hard outer layer of your teeth.

Esophagitis. This is irritation and inflammation of the lining of the esophagus caused by stomach acid.

Trouble swallowing. This can happen when scarring narrows your esophagus.

Barrett's esophagus. This is when normal cells in the lining of your esophagus are replaced by a different type of cell that may be precancerous.

Esophageal cancer. Years of exposure to stomach acid may cause cancer of the esophagus.

Certain lifestyle habits can help you avoid reflux symptoms:

  • Stop smoking, which boosts the production of stomach acid and weakens the LES.
  • Avoid foods that can trigger symptoms, such as greasy foods and citrus fruits.
  • Instead of two or three big meals, have several snacks or mini-meals throughout the day. 
  • Avoid caffeine, carbonated drinks, and alcohol.
  • Don't lie down for at least 2 hours after you eat.
  • Use extra pillows or blocks under the head of our bed to raise your head while you sleep.
  • Choose clothes that fit loosely around your stomach area.
  • Get to a weight that's healthy for you and maintain it.
  • Avoid NSAIDs such as aspirin and ibuprofen.

Over-the-counter medications can effectively treat occasional acid reflux and sometimes GERD. They include:

  • Antacids, which quickly neutralize stomach acid.
  • H2-receptor blockers such as cimetidine (Tagamet HB) or famotidine (Pepcid AC), which reduce stomach acid production.
  • Proton pump inhibitors such as lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec OTC), and esomeprazole (Nexium), which help heal the esophagus while blocking acid production.

If you have GERD, you may need prescription-strength H2-receptor blockers or proton pump inhibitors. If those don't work, your doctor might recommend a procedure to tighten your LES. In some cases, weight-loss surgery might help.

GERD is reflux that happens two or more times per week. Reflux is usually temporary and caused by something like overeating or drinking too much coffee. But GERD is a more serious and long-lasting condition that happens when the LES valve between your esophagus and stomach gets weak or too relaxed.

The most common GERD symptom is having heartburn more than twice a week for several weeks at a time. Many GERD symptoms are the same as those of reflux, though you have them more often and they may be more intense. You could notice:

  • A sore throat that won't go away
  • Feeling like you have too much saliva
  • Hoarseness
  • A sour or bitter taste in your mouth
  • Bad breath
  • Inflammation of your gums
  • Erosion of your tooth enamel
  • A dry cough or wheezing
  • Chest pain, especially when you lie down

Sometimes, you don't have symptoms and find out that you have GERD only when it causes other problems. See a doctor if you think you may have GERD.

It's common for babies to spit up when food from their stomach gets into their esophagus. This reflux happens because their digestive tracts are still developing. It causes no problems for most babies, and usually stops before the first birthday.

But some babies and young children develop GERD. It's more common in those who were born prematurely or have a condition affecting the esophagus. They may have trouble getting enough nutrients and fail to gain weight as quickly as they should.

Possible symptoms of GERD in babies and young kids include:

  • Frequent vomiting or spitting up

  • Extreme fussiness, which may include crying for hours for no apparent reason

  • Arching their backs during or just after eating

  • Gagging

  • Blood in their vomit

  • Trouble sleeping

  • Poor appetite

  • A lasting cough 

  • Trouble breathing or swallowing

  • Bad breath

 

Reflux affects about 30%-80% of pregnancies. It happens because:

  • Your changing hormone levels slow down your digestion and relax your LES, the valve between your stomach and esophagus.
  • Your growing uterus squeezes your stomach and makes the acid flow up into your esophagus.

You’re at higher risk if you had heartburn before you got pregnant or if you've had a previous pregnancy. The farther along in your pregnancy you are, the more likely you are to have heartburn. It's most common during the third trimester, when your uterus is large enough to put lots of pressure on the stomach area.

The same lifestyle changes that prevent reflux when you're not pregnant -- such as avoiding large meals, not eating near bedtime, and raising the head of your bed -- work when you're pregnant, too. But to be safe, ask your doctor before you try any over-the-counter medications.

You might also try these home remedies:

  • Chew gum to help neutralize your stomach acids.
  • Drink a mug of warm milk with honey.
  • Eat some yogurt.

In most cases, heartburn improves or goes away after delivery.

Call your doctor if you don't get lasting relief from medications. Also, call the doctor right away if you have any "alarm" acid reflux symptoms, such as these:

  • Unexpected weight loss
  • Blood in your vomit
  • Black, tarry, or maroon-colored poop
  • Difficulty or pain with swallowing

Other symptoms that should prompt a call to your doctor include:

  • Asthma-like symptoms, such as wheezing or dry cough
  • Hoarseness, especially in the morning
  • Chronic sore throat
  • Hiccups that don't let up
  • Nausea that lasts for more than a day or two

 

 

The main symptom of acid reflux is heartburn, though you might also have other issues such as regurgitation and trouble swallowing. Reflux is rarely serious, and you can usually manage it with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter treatments. But if you have heartburn more than twice a week, you may have a more serious condition called GERD.

How can you make acid reflux go away?

Occasional acid reflux usually goes away when you make lifestyle changes -- such as avoiding greasy or acidic foods and not eating close to bedtime -- and use over-the-counter treatments such as antacids.

Is it OK to live with acid reflux?

Acid reflux once in a while may be unpleasant, but it's not a medical condition. But if you have it twice a week or more for several weeks, it's time to see a doctor. GERD can damage your body tissues as well as affect your daily life.

What to drink for acid reflux at night?

Water is a good beverage choice when you have reflux, as it helps dilute stomach acid.

Some people find it soothing to drink:

  • Low-fat milk
  • Herbal teas, such as ginger or chamomile tea

Avoid carbonated drinks, alcohol, and caffeinated beverages. 

Is burping a lot a sign of cancer or acid reflux?

Burping can be a sign of acid reflux or GERD because these conditions cause you to swallow more often.

It's not usually a symptom of cancer. But if you have excessive burping along with weight loss, fever, or unexpected bleeding, see a doctor.