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Acid Reflux Symptoms: Initial Diagnosis is Crucial to Your Health

By: Jeff Martin Acid reflux disease, also known as GERD (gastro esophageal reflux disease) is an established condition for many residents of developed countries. 20% or more of the whole population of developed countries has to endure some of the typical symptoms of acid reflux at least once per week. Only a few people suspect their medical condition and the unpleasant dangers, yet well-being and quality of life is negatively impacted for most acid reflux patients.

It is essential to know how to recognize the symptoms for fast diagnosis and cure, because acid reflux can result in a high level of discomfort and serious complications for patients. Acid reflux diagnostics made using typical acid reflux symptoms observed are accurate to 70%. The majority of physicians and medical paraprofessionals agree that the first diagnosis of acid reflux, for the most part using a questionnaire on typical symptoms, is essential for treating this condition in the quickest and most effective way.

Disagreeable and painful, the most noticeable symptom of acid reflux is felt in the area of the esophagus as a persistent burning feeling (heartburn). Other typical symptoms of acid reflux are the following:

1. Dysphagia, meaning problems in swallowing or the sensation as if food were stuck in the throat. 2. Odynophagia, meaning pain when swallowing. 3. Gastric matter leading to complications in breathing in certain situations, because of regurgitation of gastric contents, in other words the uncontrolled backwards flux of stomach or esophageal contents into the throat.

About 50% of all sufferers from gastro esophageal reflux disease also note that they get concurrent sinonasal symptoms (meaning symptoms manifesting themselves in the sinuses and the nose), as well as the symptoms above.

Intense chest pain may be experienced, similar to that of a myocardial infarction and can in error be taken to be a heart attack. Unlike the symptoms of acid reflux however, cardiovascular chest pain is typically exacerbated by physical exercise. Abnormal symptoms concerning acid reflux are also chest pain that is spasmodic but non-cardiac, chronic wheezing and coughing (also known as acid reflux related asthma, the result of gastric content being sucked into the area of the lungs), and lung damage, with concomitant respiratory ailments such as asthma and pneumonia.

Further problems can affect the teeth (decay of the enamel) and the ears (otitis media) as well as damage to the vocal cords (hoarseness, laryngitis, cancer).

Acid reflux symptoms can also show up a serious general lack of internal balance. Not only that, but neglecting an acid reflux condition can make for considerable physical discomfort with the possibility of chronic conditions that can put your health in danger, such as pneumonia and esophageal cancer. The ability to see those symptoms as relating to acid reflux is crucial to your health and well being in general as well as for avoiding possible complications.

Thankfully, anyone can pinpoint typical acid reflux symptoms on his or her own, before an appointment to see the family physician. Upon identifying one or more of the symptoms above, an appointment is recommended with a certified doctor for a comprehensive examination. While a professional doctor can effectively diagnose initially and often propose relief in the form of drugs and antacids, remember that medication, whether prescription of over-the-counter, only treats the superficial symptoms of your medical condition. In addition, some drugs such as antacids can lead to various side effects. The other way is to choose the holistic approach that treats the internal aspects that are responsible for gastro esophageal reflux disease in the first place, and that cures the problem at the root of the GERD, to finally solve the issue much more effectively, safely and for the long-term.

Article Source: http://www.lifeweightloss.com

Jeff Martin is a certified nutritionist and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, Heartburn No More . To Learn More About Jeff Martins Unique Holistic Acid Reflux Cure System Visit: Acid Reflux Symptoms

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