On the suggestion of Steve A. I'm posting this.Background: Whenever I eat an excessive amount of acidic food I get, suprise Acid reflux. Its really a pain in the throat(pardon the pun). What I'm expeiriencing: Every 5-15 minutes a searing pain in from just below the jaw down to my throat. Its bearable but horribly unpleasant. After 2-3 minutes it will go away and life goes on. Up until now I've just delt with it stoic hero that I am.The Questions: First of all, what are the symptoms of acid reflux? I'd like to make sure I'm not confusing it with heartburn. Second what are the best medicines/methods to treat this, are the over the counter or perscription? Finaly do you tihnk its worth paying for a visit to the doctor? Thanks all.
-
Acid Reflux
-
Heartburn is acid reflux. You make think of acid reflux only when you feel it coming up your throat, but it's still acid reflux even if it only comes up a little, and causes discomfort above your stomach. If you have chronic acid reflux, you have GERD (do a Google search for more detailed information). It can lead to the scarring of the esophagus, or worse. It definitely rates a consultation with a doctor.In the short term, you can take antacids, and you can make sure your head is elevated when you go to sleep (pile up the pillows), but in the longer term, you need to make sure that there's no structural problem (like a hiatus hernia), and you may have to take something to reduce acid production in your stomach, like Prilosec. (You don't take Prilosec when you have heartburn; you take it every day (generally), to prevent heartburn in the first place.In any case, you need to see a doctor to figure out what you need to do. It's not good for you to live with chronic acid reflux.