There are a few definitive symptoms of indigestion and the most common is a burning sensation in the chest, just behind the sternum. This pain or burning sensation is usually located in the esophagus, just below or behind the breastbone. The pain often rises in your chest and may radiate to your neck or throat. The pain experienced can be anywhere from light to extensive, but it is usually hard to ignore. Some of the acid reflux signs and symptoms can be confused with a heart attack and should not be ignored. A heart condition usually stems from physical activity and acid reflux does not, however if there is any doubt it is best to seek emergency treatment just in case it is the heart.

Acid Reflux is also called "Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease" (GERD), as well as "reflux" or "reflux esophagitis", it is a problem almost everyone experiences at some time - it occurs when acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus - some people experience it in a severe and frequent manner.

Other acid reflux signs and symptoms may include a burning feeling in the throat or a sour taste in the mouth. Acid reflux is often accompanied by hoarseness or coughing and the voice may be lost without reason. The person could have a hard time swallowing and have an excess amount of gas that can also cause burping. In infants, spitting up every time they eat is common.

Many of the acid reflux signs and symptoms may occur at once or simply one of them, and it can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the severity of the attack. The frequency with which a person suffers acid reflux may indicate something serious such as a hiatal hernia, or something as simple as having eaten too much.

Different Causes For Different People

Almost everyone has occasional heartburn. If you have frequent, ongoing heartburn, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Heartburn is more likely to occur if you have a hiatal hernia, which is when the top part of the stomach protrudes upward into the chest cavity. This weakens the LES and makes it easier for acid to reflux from the stomach into the esophagus.

 Some people have what they might call a cast iron stomach and never seem to suffer from acid reflux. However, for many acid reflux signs and symptoms are a daily occurrence and learning to recognize the signs as they approach can help the person prepare to ward off a significant episode. Persons on prescription drugs will usually take something before or immediately after eating while others will take an antacid tablet at the first notice of acid reflux signs and symptoms.

Normally, when food or liquid enters your stomach, a band of muscle at the end of your esophagus (called the lower esophageal sphincter or LES) closes off the esophagus. If this muscle fails to close tightly enough, stomach contents can back up (reflux) into the esophagus. This partially digested material is usually acidic and can irritate the esophagus, causing heartburn and other symptoms.

Typically, stomach acid flowing back into the esophagus is the culprit for acid reflux, due to bad timing of the opening and closing of the lower esophagus sphincter, LES. This is a muscle around the esophagus at the point where it enters the stomach. The LES will open to allow food to pass into the stomach when a person swallows, but closes up to prevent the stomach contents from being passed back into the esophagus, eliminating the acid reflux signs and symptoms.

This may occur several times throughout the day, but usually a person is standing and gravity helps keep the food in the stomach and they never feel the acid reflux signs and symptoms. However, when lying in bed, the symptoms associated with acid reflux may be severe enough to cause a loss of sleep.

Heartburn can be brought on or worsened by pregnancy and by many different medications.

Such drugs include:

Beta blockers for high blood pressure or heart disease
Dopamine for Parkinson's disease
Certain bronchodilators for asthma
Calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure
Progestin for abnormal menstrual bleeding or birth control
Anticholinergics (e.g., for sea sickness)
Tricyclic antidepressants
Sedatives for insomnia or anxiety

If you suspect that one of your medications may be causing heartburn, talk to your doctor. NEVER change or stop medication you take regularly without talking to your doctor.

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Acid Reflux Signs And Symptoms Should Not Be Ignored