Written by:Fact check:

Overview

What Is Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux happens when stomach contents, including stomach acid, flow backward into the esophagus, the tube that carries food to the stomach. Occasional reflux is common, while frequent or troublesome reflux may be gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Heartburn is a burning feeling that can result from reflux, but reflux can also cause other symptoms. Acid reflux can affect adults and children.

Symptoms

Acid Reflux Symptoms

Acid reflux symptoms commonly occur after meals, when you bend over or lie down, or at night. Some people have typical digestive symptoms, while others notice throat or breathing-related symptoms. These are common gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms, but they can also have other causes.

  • Heartburn
  • Regurgitation
  • Sour taste in the mouth
  • Chest discomfort
  • Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
  • Chronic cough
  • Hoarseness
  • Sensation of a lump in the throat

Causes

What Causes Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter, a ring of muscle between the esophagus and stomach, relaxes when it should not or becomes weak. This allows stomach contents to flow backward into the esophagus. Large meals, pressure on the stomach, and lying down soon after eating can make reflux more likely or more severe.

  • Large meals
  • Eating shortly before lying down
  • Pregnancy
  • Excess body weight
  • Smoking
  • Hiatal hernia
  • Individual food and drink triggers

Risk Factors

Acid Reflux Risk Factors

  • Pregnancy
  • Older age
  • Hiatal hernia
  • Conditions that slow stomach emptying
  • Certain medicines that relax the lower esophageal sphincter
  • Smoking or tobacco exposure
  • Excess body weight
  • Large or high-fat meals
  • Eating close to bedtime
  • Personal food and drink triggers

Complications

Acid Reflux Complications

Occasional reflux is common and may improve with simple changes. Frequent or untreated reflux can repeatedly irritate the esophagus and may lead to complications. These problems are not inevitable, but ongoing gastroesophageal reflux disease should be discussed with a clinician.

  • Inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis)
  • Narrowing of the esophagus
  • Food becoming stuck in the esophagus
  • Barrett’s esophagus
  • Damage to tooth enamel
  • Sleep disruption

Diagnosis

How Acid Reflux Is Diagnosed

Clinicians usually start by asking about your symptoms, when they occur, possible triggers, medical history, and medicines. They may also perform a physical examination and recommend a treatment trial when appropriate. Not everyone needs testing, but tests may be used when symptoms are persistent, unclear, or complicated.

  • Upper endoscopy to look for inflammation, injury, narrowing, or Barrett’s esophagus
  • Ambulatory pH or impedance monitoring to measure reflux over time
  • Esophageal manometry to assess muscle and sphincter function

Treatment & Management

Acid Reflux Treatment and Management

Prevention

Can Acid Reflux Be Prevented?

  • Maintain a weight that is healthy for you
  • Avoid tobacco
  • Choose smaller meals when large meals trigger symptoms
  • Identify and limit personal food or drink triggers
  • Stay upright after eating
  • Follow the treatment plan for diagnosed GERD

Prevention is individualized. Pregnancy, hiatal hernia, and some medical conditions may still cause reflux despite healthy habits, so symptoms may require medical treatment as well as lifestyle changes.

Outlook and Prognosis

Outlook for Acid Reflux

Occasional reflux often improves when you avoid personal triggers and adjust meal timing or other habits. GERD may recur and can require long-term management tailored to symptom severity, response to treatment, and any complications. With appropriate acid reflux treatment and follow-up, many people can control their symptoms.

When Should You See a Doctor

When Should You See a Doctor for Acid Reflux?

Get urgent help

Some symptoms may not be reflux

Seek urgent or emergency care for severe or new chest pain, chest pain with shortness of breath or sweating, vomiting blood, black stools, food stuck in the throat, fainting, or severe dehydration.

  • Symptoms occur frequently or interfere with daily life
  • Over-the-counter treatment does not help
  • Symptoms repeatedly wake you at night
  • You have trouble or pain when swallowing
  • You have persistent vomiting
  • You have unexplained weight loss
  • You have recurrent cough or hoarseness

Branches

1 topic

Symptoms

7 topics