10 Signs of Acid Reflux and GORD That Go Beyond Just Heartburn

There it is again: That painful, fiery sensation rising up into your chest and throat. Your mind jumps to that greasy piece of pizza you instantly regret eating—and you know the acid reflux it spurred is about to burn. Acid reflux—a condition in which your stomach’s acids bubble up into your esophagus and throat—is extremely common. If you experience acid reflux every once in a while, it’s simply known as gastro-oesophageal reflux (GORD). But if you deal with it on a chronic basis (two days or more per week), that’s when it’s diagnosed as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).

Those powerful stomach acids are pretty necessary, as they help break down the foods you eat, setting off the digestion process. The problem arises when those acids don’t stay where they should, which is most common for reflux sufferers after large meals and during bedtime. The common culprit? A weak or relaxed lower oesophageal sphincter, when the tiny valve at the base of your oesophagus opens when it’s not supposed to, allowing stomach acid to slosh its way up.

Lots of things can up your risk of acid reflux, including obesity, pregnancy, smoking, alcohol, age, certain medications, or having a hiatal hernia. But many people find that particular foods can be a huge reflux trigger. Think: fried and fatty foods, chocolate, tomato sauce, alcohol, coffee, carbonated drinks, and vinegar. Acid reflux doesn’t always have noticeable symptoms, but almost all of us experience it from time to time in the form of heartburn. But reflux can cause less obvious symptoms, too, says gastroenterologist Dr Joseph Murray. The condition can be complicated, and it is not always the answer to related health issues or that weird feeling in the throat. “I also see reflux being blamed for symptoms that have nothing to do with it,” Dr Murray says. Not sure what you’re dealing with? Ahead, the most common (and unusual) signs of acid reflux that go way beyond bouts of heartburn.

decade3d ©Getty Images

Chest pain, especially after eating

Yes, it’s a cliché that people mistake heartburn for a heart attack—but there is truth to it. “It’s not uncommon to see someone in the ER with terrible chest pain, thinking it’s a heart attack, when it’s actually reflux,” Dr Murray says.

The opposite also happens—sometimes with tragic results. “Someone is having a heart attack, but they don’t go to the ER because they figure it’s indigestion,” he says.

Typical heart attack symptoms will include tightness or pressure in the chest, arms, or neck, which doesn’t occur with reflux or GORD, per Mayo Clinic. When in doubt, go to the emergency room.

decade3d ©Getty Images

Lots of saliva

If your mouth is flooded with saliva after a meal or snack, that’s often a good indicator of acid reflux, Dr Murray says. For some of the same reasons your mouth starts watering before you vomit, your salivary glands kick into high gear when they detect an irritant in your throat. They’re preparing to wash away whatever’s down there—or about to come up.

decade3d ©Getty Images

Breathing issues or wheezing

If you experience problems breathing, especially if this feels worse at night when you’re laying in bed, reflux may be to blame.

“When you lie down, acid washing up into the esophagus can trigger a reflex that causes wheezing,” Murray explains. “The acid can also go into airways and cause direct irritation, so you could be waking up choking and coughing.”

decade3d ©Getty Images

Regurgitation

Another sign of reflux, is the feeling of food coming back up after you’ve eaten. It’s not the same as throwing up—it’s more like that strange sensation that something is creeping up your throat to the back of your mouth.

decade3d ©Getty Images

Bitter taste

The stomach juices or fluids that force their way up into your oesophagus can also leave a sour or acidic taste in the back of your throat, according to Mayo Clinic research. If eating seems to spur a bitter taste in your mouth, acid reflux may be the culprit.

decade3d ©Getty Images

A sensation of a lump in the throat

The constant feeling of a lump in your throat (known as globus sensation) could actually be a sign of chronic reflux, especially when combined with other symptoms on this list. However, it’s not always a symptom of reflux, Dr Murray says, and “dust or irritants” could be to blame for that lump feeling or constant throat-clearing.

Frequent burping

Like regurgitation, frequent burping is a sign that food could be making its way back up your oesophagus. Chronic belching also might be caused by increased swallowing associated with GORD, according to Mayo Clinic.

Difficult or painful swallowing

“Reflux can cause a narrowing of the throat due to damage and scarring, so food is actually being held up on its way down,” Dr Murray says. This can feel like your food has grown claws and is scratching at your throat as it heads toward your stomach, so swallowing feels much more painful or difficult than it should be.

Nausea

It makes sense that reflux would cause nausea, per the NIH, since the condition is rooted within your digestive system. Chronic nausea is not necessarily related to acid reflux, but it is one of the more common signs.

Sore throat and coughing

A sore throat, coughing, and hoarseness can be caused by a condition called laryngopharyngeal reflux, which happens when stomach acid reaches the throat. Dr Murray recommends caution before automatically assuming your throat troubles are the result of reflux, however: “Too often, a doctor sees a red throat and starts treating it with heavy-duty acid-blocking drugs,” he says. If you try those drugs for two weeks and don’t notice an improvement, “something else may be going on,” like allergies or a sinus infection.