Acid Reflux | Baylor Scott & White Health

What is acid reflux?

Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux, occurs when food and acid from your stomach travel back up your esophagus. This can cause a burning sensation in your chest and throat, known as heartburn, as well as other symptoms.

The terms acid reflux, heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are often used interchangeably, but they do not mean the same thing. Acid reflux is a condition, and heartburn is one of its symptoms. Over time, acid reflux can cause GERD, a more serious, long-term condition in which acid reflux occurs repeatedly or causes complications.

Acid reflux is very common and affects almost everyone at some point in their lives. Most people can treat it with lifestyle changes, home remedies or over-the-counter medicines. But if chronic symptoms interfere with your quality of life, your doctor can help.

What causes acid reflux?

After eating, food travels down your esophagus, the muscular tube connecting your throat to your stomach. Your lower esophageal sphincter (LES) acts as a valve, relaxing to allow food to enter your stomach and then closing.

Acid reflux occurs when the LES relaxes at the wrong time or becomes weakened, allowing food, stomach (gastric) acid and bile to travel back up into your esophagus. Your stomach is designed to handle the highly acidic fluids that aid in digestion, but they can cause a painful, burning sensation if they travel to your esophagus.

Acid reflux symptoms

Heartburn is the symptom most frequently associated with acid reflux. It can feel like a burning sensation in the middle of your chest rising towards your throat. You might also have regurgitation, where you feel your stomach contents coming back into your throat and mouth. However, not everyone will experience these.

Other symptoms of acid reflux include:

Bad taste in your mouth
Burping or hiccups
Chest pain
Cough or hoarseness
Difficulty swallowing
Excessive saliva
Loss of appetite
Nausea or vomiting, especially after meals
Pain when swallowing
Sore throat

When to see a doctor

Most people can relieve occasional symptoms with home treatment or over-the-counter acid reflux remedies. However, you should see your primary care provider or a gastroenterologist if:

You have acid reflux more than twice a week.
You often feel sick to your stomach or like throwing up.
Your symptoms don’t get better when you take over-the-counter medications.
You begin losing weight because symptoms make it hard to eat or reduce your appetite.

Acid reflux risk factors

Many factors can lead to your LES being weakened, including being overweight or pregnant and taking certain medicines. Still, acid reflux can affect people of any age, from infants to older adults. But some factors can increase your chances of getting it.

Risk factors of acid reflux include:

Age: Your LES can weaken as you age.
Being overweight or obese: Excess weight can put more pressure on your stomach and affect your LES.
Pregnancy: Acid reflux is common during pregnancy, especially during the last trimester. Your hormones cause your esophageal sphincter to relax and your developing baby puts pressure on your stomach.
Smoking (or inhaling smoke): Chemicals in tobacco can weaken your LES.
Stress: Stress and anxiety can lead to gastrointestinal symptoms, including acid reflux.

Complications of acid reflux

Chronic acid reflux can cause GERD, a long-term condition that can damage the lining of your esophagus. GERD itself can cause serious health problems, such as esophageal cancer or a chronic cough.

Other complications of acid reflux may include:

Esophagitis: Inflammation in the lining of the esophagus.
Barrett’s esophagus: When the tissues lining your esophagus change to look like intestinal lining. This is a risk factor for esophageal cancer.
Asthma: Acid in your airway may aggravate people with existing asthma or cause symptoms in people without preexisting respiratory conditions. Seeking treatment for acid reflux may help you avoid GERD complications and any long-term health effects.

Diagnosing acid reflux

If you’re experiencing symptoms like heartburn, chest discomfort or a sour taste in your mouth, your primary care provider may be able to diagnose acid reflux just by reviewing your symptoms and medical history. In many cases, no additional testing is needed. However, if your symptoms don’t improve with treatment or your doctor suspects a more serious condition like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), they may order tests or refer you to a specialist, such as a gastroenterologist.

Acid reflux treatment

Many lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications can help you with occasional acid reflux. It may help to identify what triggers your reflux and avoid them. When lifestyle changes and nonprescription medications no longer help, your doctor can give you prescription alternatives and, if your symptoms interfere with your daily life, order tests to see if you have GERD.

Lifestyle changes

Most people can prevent acid reflux by avoiding triggers or changing how they eat. Foods and drinks that can trigger acid reflux in some people include:

Alcoholic or carbonated drinks
Chocolate
Citrus fruits and drinks
Coffee and other caffeinated beverages
Greasy, fried or fatty foods
Peppermint
Tomatoes and tomato-based products

You can also try altering some of your eating habits. For example:

Take your time when eating.
Take a short walk after meals.
Try eating more frequent but smaller meals, rather than large meals.
Wait at least two hours after a meal before lying down. This aids gravity’s role in digestion.

If you get heartburn or other symptoms at night, you can elevate the head of your bed to see if that helps. Aim to raise your head six to eight inches. You’ll need to use blocks or a wedge under your mattress. Sleeping on extra pillows usually isn’t enough to reduce symptoms.

Quitting smoking and losing weight could also improve symptoms. You can also try wearing looser clothing, as tight clothes may put too much pressure on your stomach and LES.

Find specialized care for acid reflux near you

At Baylor Scott & White, we offer several locations for the treatment of acid reflux, including gastroenterology centers across North and Central Texas. Our experienced team is ready to provide personalized care to help improve your quality of life. Whether you're seeking diagnosis, treatment or require ongoing support, we're by your side.

Baylor Scott & White Advanced Digestive Care

3434 Swiss Ave Ste 200, Dallas, TX, 75204

Baylor Scott & White Advanced Digestive Care

3434 Swiss Ave Ste 200, Dallas, TX, 75204

What is acid reflux?

What causes acid reflux?

Acid reflux symptoms

When to see a doctor

Acid reflux risk factors

Complications of acid reflux

Diagnosing acid reflux

Medical history and exam

Imaging

Ambulatory pH monitoring

Esophageal manometry

Acid reflux treatment

Lifestyle changes

Medication

Over-the-counter-medicines

Prescription medicines

Diaphragmatic breathing training (DBT)

Find specialized care for acid reflux near you

Frequently asked questions

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What should I do during an acid reflux attack?

What should I drink for acid reflux?

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