Once you are done eating, a small valve in your food tube (esophagus): the sphincter closes in to prevent stomach acid from coming back up. However, when the same organ fails to do it successfully, acid reflux occurs and damages your esophagus and throat massively.
However, in most cases, acid reflux is caused due to heavy eating and leading an unhealthy or self-harming lifestyle. So, if you take care of yourself a little, you’ll get better eventually.
But, if the issue doesn’t stop, it might be time to visit a doctor. In this article, we have shared information about a few scenarios that should invoke you to go to your physician.
Let’s learn more about them:
When Should You Visit An Acid Reflux Specialist?
Acid reflux, when it occurs, may cause some pretty common symptoms, including heartburn. It might also cause a bitter taste in your mouth due to the acid’s presence. Vomiting can be an inherently prominent symptom of acid reflux.
Thus, if something like this happens, it might be better to consume an acid blocker to ensure that the reflux has stopped. However, if you are seeing the following signs, it might be best to consult with a doctor as soon as you can:
1: Extreme Chest Pain With Lightheadedness.
In an acid reflux incident, the stomach acid soars from your stomach and affects the lining of the esophagus. Now, as the organ is located nearby your chest area, you might feel pain in the chest during this event. The pain might be prominent depending on the extent of the damage.
However, if the pain is unbearable and you are feeling lightheaded as well, it might be a sign of a heart attack. It’s a medical emergency and requires immediate medical attention.
2: Unexplainable Weight Loss
If you have encountered continuous acid reflux, you may feel nauseous and refuse to eat in a proper manner for a day or two. It might also lead to changes in your diet to some extent.
However, acid reflux doesn’t lead to unexplainable weight loss. It might be a sign of a severe stomach issue or even cancer. So, it might be best to talk to a doctor as soon as possible.
3: Vomiting Blood
Vomiting can, indeed, be caused by acid reflux, especially if it’s too severe. But, it will never lead to vomiting blood or bloody stools. It is a more prominent symptom of a stomach ulcer. In some cases, stomach cancer can also lead to this issue, especially at the later stages.
Vomiting blood coupled with extreme stomach pain can also denote either of the aforesaid. In essence, both of these issues are life-threatening, so make sure to talk to a physician about them.
4: Sore Throat And Difficulty Swallowing.
Both of these are the earliest sign of acid reflux and usually happens after you’ve eaten a food that’s acidic in nature. However, difficulty swallowing might also be caused by the striction of an esophagus. It can be a result of the presence of a tumor or any other organ-related disease.
Sometimes, you might feel like there’s a lump in your throat too. However, it’s a fundamental symptom of acid reflux and will go away on its own after a while.
5: Frequent Heartburn
Heartburn is yet another common issue associated with acid reflux. However, it mostly occurs when you are having an acid reflux. In any case, you may take care of this issue by following a proper diet plan and consuming an antacid or two.
However, if the issue doesn’t get resolved even then, you will need to talk to a doctor. It can be an indication of another stomach-related problem or something such.
Conclusion
Even if it’s not too serious, acid reflux should be taken care of as soon as possible. In order to do so, you may try maintaining a moderate weight limit, trying to quit smoking, and avoiding eating too late at night. Also, make sure not to lie down right away after you have eaten. It’ll worsen the condition even more. Oh, and, make sure to eliminate fatty, acidic foods from your meals.
It will certainly help you out with your condition.
