3 Unusual Heartburn Symptoms

You may have heartburn and acid reflux and not realize it! Some heartburn signs are common and most of us (nearly half of all adults) have experienced or will experience those at some time. However, heartburn can, among other symptoms, point to serious conditions such as GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease) or acid reflux.

Here are 3 unusual symptoms that can be related to heartburn and acid reflux:

1. Hoarseness: If you find yourself clearing your throat a lot, or become aware that your voice is raspy or rough, you might not think heartburn or acid reflux. When stomach acid is regurgitated back up through the LES (lower esophageal sphincter), it irritates the delicate lining of the esophagus and creates the burning sensation that we know as heartburn. That same caustic acid can actually splash or leak up higher, enter your trachea, and cause the inflammation of your vocal cords. (There are other causes of hoarseness too, of course, such as acute laryngitis, but that is usually has a relatively short duration.) If you're a singer, and want to protect your voice, you should stay away from smoking and alcohol especially, because both of them relax the sphincter which allows stomach acid to begin to cause theses problems. When you treat your acid reflux issue, you will also be helping to heal your vocal cords.

2. Tooth Decay and Gum Inflammation: Sometimes your dentist will be the first one to notice that you have acid reflux. He or she may remark that your teeth have become eroded or discolored or that there has been marked damage to your gums. This process usually begins to happen at night when you lay down soon (within 2 hours) after eating. Stomach acid travels up into your esophagus and mouth where it eats into your tooth enamel. Even though you don't have other symptoms, this "silent reflux" can be causing damage for hours each night. The acid can create a bad taste in your mouth as well and also cause chronic night time coughing. Curing the root cause of your acid reflux is the only way to permanently stop this damage. A trip to an M.D. should probably be your next step.

3. Asthma: Asthma related to acid reflux occurs when your airways constrict so the acid can't enter your windpipe and you experience shortness of breath. A majority of people who have asthma also have acid reflux. The link between the two is far from clearly defined, but there does seem to be a relationship, especially if you develop asthma as an adult or if its symptoms worsen when you exercise or lay down after eating. Unfortunately, some asthma medications can actually cause the LES to relax which lets more acid into the esophagus. This is a real Catch-22. But, if you treat the reflux, the asthma may respond as well. Always work with your doctor when adjusting medication.

Although some people believe that heartburn is chronic and can't be cured, there are others who have had good results with simple natural remedies. Finding the root cause of your heartburn is important to learning how to control it.

By: Elizabeth Russel

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If you would like more information about heartburn signs, please visit our website at: heartburnremedycenter.com. Elizabeth Russel suffered for 6 years with heartburn and acid reflux. She has done extensive research on natural heartburn remedies and is now heartburn free.