Acid Reflux Symptoms: What You Need To Know

Acid reflux is a really common condition, which is estimated to affect up to 1 in 4 adults in the UK. [1] However, if it's not properly managed, it can be uncomfortable and may even lead to health complications.

In this article, we'll guide you through acid reflux: its causes, its symptoms and the steps you can take to manage it.

Article Summary:

• Acid reflux is a common condition, where stomach acid travels up your food pipe (oesophagus). It can cause symptoms like heartburn and a sour taste in your mouth.
• Lifestyle, hormonal changes, certain medications and medical conditions can contribute to acid reflux.
• Effective management (like positive lifestyle changes and certain types of medication) may help reduce symptoms. If your symptoms are more frequent or severe, speak to your healthcare provider.

What is acid reflux?

If you've ever experienced a burning sensation in the middle of your chest, coupled with a sour taste in your mouth, it may have been acid reflux.

Acid reflux occurs when stomach acid travels up your food pipe towards your throat. [2] This can happen when the ring of muscle between your stomach and food pipe, which normally acts like a valve to keep stomach contents where they belong, becomes weak or relaxes at the wrong time. 1,3]

If you regularly experience acid reflux, speak to your healthcare provider. You may be experiencing gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), or chronic acid reflux.

What are the symptoms of acid reflux?

The most common acid reflux symptoms include:

Heartburn: Heartburn often feels like a burning pain in the middle of your chest. You may also feel it rising up towards your throat. [2,3]

A bitter or sour taste: A strange, unpleasant taste in your mouth may be caused by stomach contents, like stomach acid, travelling up your food pipe and into your throat or the back of your mouth.

During reflux episodes, you may also experience:

• A chronic cough or hiccups
• Hoarse voice
• Bad breath
• Bloating and nausea
• Chest pain
• Problems swallowing or pain while swallowing [2, 3]

You may experience these symptoms shortly after eating, and when you lie down or bend over. [2]

Why is my mouth suddenly producing so much saliva?

Sometimes when you experience reflux episodes, you may also experience excess saliva production. This is known as "water brash", and it's thought to be a protective reflex against acid reflux. Think of this excess saliva production as your body's way of "washing" or neutralising irritant stomach acid out of your food pipe. [4, 5] This may also lead to that sour, unpleasant taste that many experience during acid reflux.

What causes acid reflux?

There are many different factors which may cause acid reflux. These include:

Lifestyle

Some types of food and drink may increase your likelihood of experiencing acid reflux. These include fatty and spicy foods, food and drink with higher acid levels, and coffee and alcohol. [2]

Living with overweight and obesity is also linked to an increased chance of developing acid reflux, as is smoking. [6, 7]

Your mental wellbeing, specifically your stress and anxiety levels, may also be associated with acid reflux. A recent study conducted in Sri Lanka found that those who lived with moderate to high stress levels were more likely to experience acid reflux symptoms than those who lived with low stress levels. [8]

Hormonal changes

Studies have also suggested that changing hormone levels may have a part to play in acid reflux. In particular, an increase in the levels of female sex hormones progesterone and oestrogen has been linked to a higher likelihood of developing acid reflux. [9] In fact, a recent study found that people who currently or previously have used hormonal therapy to relieve menopausal symptoms are 29% more likely to develop GORD. [10]

Pregnancy

It's estimated that anywhere between 30-80% of people may experience acid reflux symptoms during pregnancy. [11] It can occur at any stage, but it often becomes more common from around 12 weeks onwards and may worsen in the second and third trimesters. This is thought to be due to hormonal changes and pressure from the growing baby on the stomach. [2,12]

Making certain lifestyle changes during pregnancy may help reduce the symptoms. Always remember to speak to your healthcare provider before taking medication while you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.

Medication

Certain types of medical treatments, like anti-inflammatory painkillers (ibuprofen, for example) and some blood pressure medication, particularly calcium channel blockers and nitrates, may also increase some people's likelihood of experiencing acid reflux. [13]

Medical conditions

You may be more likely to experience acid reflux symptoms if you have certain medical conditions. Some digestive conditions can cause symptoms that overlap with acid reflux, including stomach ulcers. Other conditions, such as H. pylori infection, may also be associated with reflux symptoms. [14, 2]

A condition called hiatus hernia has also been linked to acid reflux. Hiatus hernia is when part of your stomach moves up into your chest. While a small hiatus hernia may be managed with medication, in cases where the hiatus hernia is larger, or symptoms are particularly bad, surgery may be suggested. [1, 2]

Why acid reflux management matters

If you frequently experience acid reflux, it's important to speak to your healthcare provider. While for many people acid reflux is an occasional inconvenience, for some it can negatively impact daily life, causing a range of issues from sleep disturbances to tooth erosion. [15]

And, if left unmanaged, over time acid reflux and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) may lead to more serious health complications.

Some people with GORD may develop a condition called Barrett’s oesophagus, where the lining of your food pipe becomes similar to the lining of your intestine. In rare cases, Barrett’s oesophagus may develop into a type of cancer called oesophageal adenocarcinoma. [3]

If you have any concerns about any of your acid reflux symptoms, or if your acid reflux is chronic or causing you pain, it's really important to speak to your healthcare provider.

How can I prevent acid reflux?

Fortunately, there are several things you can do to help reduce acid reflux symptoms.

Lifestyle changes

Making small daily lifestyle modifications may lead to positive changes in your acid reflux episodes.

If you think your acid reflux may be connected to certain types of food or eating patterns, try to avoid any known triggers. Eating smaller, more frequent meals rather than large portions may help, as well as avoiding greasy, rich and spicy foods. It's also best to avoid lying down straight after eating, and eating too close to bedtime.

If you’re living with obesity or overweight, you may find your symptoms improve during a weight loss journey. [2]

If you smoke or drink, cutting down may also help. [2]

If you experience sleep disturbances because of acid reflux, sleeping on your left side or back sleeping may help. [1] You could also try using a "wedge pillow", to keep your head elevated while lying down and support better quality sleep.

Medical treatment

Some types of medication may also help you to manage the symptoms of acid reflux.

Antacids and alginates may help with short-term relief from occasional symptoms. Antacids help to neutralise stomach acid, while alginates form a thick protective layer barrier in your stomach to prevent acid levels from rising. However, antacids and alginates shouldn't be taken regularly for longer periods of time. [1, 2]

Histamine H2-receptor antagonists (H2 blockers) can also provide relief from milder symptoms. H2 blockers may help heal your oesophagus (food pipe). [3]

The most effective medications for acid reflux are known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like Omeprazole work by significantly reducing the amount of acid produced in your stomach, giving your oesophagus (food pipe) time to heal. [16] Although they're very safe, treatment's often limited to short-term use. [3, 16]

In more serious cases, surgery may be suggested by your healthcare provider. This is normally in instances where lifestyle changes aren't working, or if you'd prefer not to take long-term medication. [1]

If you've been experiencing acid reflux symptoms, making small lifestyle modifications may help you manage any discomfort. But if you're considering medical treatment, help is also available.

If lifestyle changes aren't enough to control your acid reflux symptoms, prescription treatment may help. At MedExpress, we offer a quick online consultation and a range of clinically proven acid reflux treatments, including Omeprazole, Lansoprazole, Esomeprazole and Pantoprazole. Our UK-registered clinicians will review your consultation and, if treatment is suitable, help you find the option that's right for you.

References

1. Heartburn & Acid Reflux | Causes, Symptoms & Treatment [Internet]. Guts UK. Available from: https://gutscharity.org.uk/advice-and-information/symptoms/heartburn-and-reflux/
2. NHS. Heartburn and acid reflux [Internet]. NHS. 2023. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/heartburn-and-acid-reflux/
3. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Acid Reflux (GER & GERD) in Adults | NIDDK [Internet]. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. 2019. Available from: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/acid-reflux-ger-gerd-adults
4. Helm JF, Dodds WJ, Hogan WJ. Salivary response to esophageal acid in normal subjects and patients with reflux esophagitis. Gastroenterology. 1987 Dec;93(6):1393–7.
5. What Is Water Brash? [Internet]. Cleveland Clinic. Available from: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/water-brash
6. Chang P, Friedenberg F. Obesity and GERD. Gastroenterology Clinics of North America [Internet]. 2014 Mar;43(1):161–73. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3920303/
7. Okamoto T, Ito A. The Association between Smoking Exposure and Reflux Esophagitis: A Cross-sectional Study among Men Conducted as a Part of Health Screening. Internal Medicine [Internet]. 2023;advpub:0451-22. Available from: https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/internalmedicine/advpub/0/advpub_0451-22/_article/-char/ja/
8. Wickramasinghe NC, Ahthavann Thuraisingham, Achini Jayalath, Dakshitha Wickramasinghe, Nandadeva Samarasekara, Etsuro Yazaki, et al. The association between symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease and perceived stress: A countrywide study of Sri Lanka. PLOS ONE. 2023 Nov 9;18(11):e0294135–5.
9. Jacobson BC, Moy B, Colditz GA, Fuchs CS. Postmenopausal Hormone Use and Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux. Archives of Internal Medicine [Internet]. 2008 Sep 8;168(16):1798. Available from: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/414450
10. Salamon M. Hormone therapy linked to higher risks of GERD [Internet]. Harvard Health. 2023. Available from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/hormone-therapy-linked-to-higher-risks-of-gerd
11. Dunbar K, Yadlapati R, Konda V. Heartburn, Nausea, and Vomiting During Pregnancy. American Journal of Gastroenterology. 2022 Oct;117(10S):10–5.
12. GERD and Pregnancy [Internet]. www.uchicagomedicine.org. Available from: https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/conditions-services/esophageal-diseases/gastroesophageal-reflux-disease/gerd-and-pregnancy
13. Ren Ueta, Komori S, Umemoto K, Hata M, Masuda E, Seto K, et al. Medication use and risk of reflux oesophagitis. BMJ Open Gastroenterology [Internet]. 2024 Dec 1;11(1):e001468–8. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11664347/
14. NHS. Overview - Stomach Ulcer [Internet]. NHS. 2019. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stomach-ulcer/
15. Ranjitkar S, Kaidonis JA, Smales RJ. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Tooth Erosion. International Journal of Dentistry [Internet]. 2012;2012:1–10. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3238367/
16. OMEPRAZOLE 10mg / 20mg / 40mg GASTRO-RESISTANT TABLETS [Internet]. Available from: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.663.pdf