Symptoms of Gastroesophageal reflux disease

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The main symptom of GORD is heartburn. Heartburn is a form of indigestion. It is usually felt as a burning pain behind the breastbone (in the front of your chest, over the heart), and happens when stomach acid damages the inside of the oesophagus. It often happens after a meal and is worse when you lie down. Many people get heartburn, especially smokers, people who are overweight, and pregnant women.

Other symptoms can include:

An acid, sour taste in the mouth;
Burning pain in the throat;
Bloating and belching;
Stomach pains;
Burning pain in the throat and oesophagus when you swallow hot drinks;
Regurgitating food (when food comes out of your stomach and back up your oesophagus);
Nausea and vomiting; and
Vomiting blood.

Symptoms tend to get worse after eating, especially after a large fatty meal.

More unusual symptoms include:

Coughing, particularly at night;
Hoarseness or changes in the voice, because the acid gets into the windpipe and voicebox (larynx) and irritates it; and
Severe chest pain.

Some people get mild heartburn and other symptoms of GORD most days, but for most people, acid reflux is rare.

You can have oesophagitis (inflammation of the oesophagus) but have few symptoms such as pain; on the other hand, itâ€™s possible to have lots of symptoms of GORD, but very little damage to your oesophagus.