Is It Heartburn or Gastroesophageal Disease?
How do you know if that irritating burning sensation in your chest that sometimes causes you great discomfort is simply heartburn or gastroesphageal disease (GERD)
The majority of people suffer from heartburn at least once in their lives.
It may have been after enjoying a late night spicy meal. It may have been when in the late stages of pregnancy. Times will vary for different people and so will the acid reflux symptoms.
For some, the burn never eases, and what was originally thought to be heartburn is turned into a disease that can wreak havoc on your life – emotionally and physically, causing sleep deprivation and misery on a daily basis.
You may try the over-the-counter medications to help the problem but if it continues, you may need to find a different solution to your symptoms of acid reflux.
One of the biggest determiners of finding out if you have heartburn or GERD is the frequency of the symptoms.
GERD sufferers probably have heartburn more than twice a week. The burning sensation lasts longer than for someone who occasionally gets indigestion.
Acid reflux causes for some a serious problem of finding it hard to swallow during the moments they are feeling the burn in the chest. A simple antacid may work for heartburn but GERD is harder to cure with ordinary medications.
Heartburn can actually affect you at any time of the day or night. Those with acid reflux symptoms GERD, notice it flaring up at night while trying to get to sleep or stay asleep. Keep a note of the frequency and severity of your symptoms and what may have triggered the severe symptoms, for example what you may have eaten prior to the onset.
If you feel that your entire lifestyle is being affected because you fear the onset of heartburn, offer this information to your doctor/physician, it may help in diagnosing if you have GERD or just the occasional heartburn.
Heartburn or GERD doesn’t have to spoil the enjoyment of life. Acid reflux remedies and treatments and even surgery for severe cases are available.
Take control of your heartburn and acid reflux symptoms by finding a cure/relief that works best for you.
