Is Acid Reflux a Disease?

Acid reflux reportedly affects 1 out of every 10 adults in the US. It's also one cause of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a disease in which stomach acid flows back (refluxes) into your esophagus. Acid reflux is also the cause of heartburn and in severe cases, it can cause a lot of trouble.

So, what are the symptoms of acid reflux disease? Typical symptoms include a cough, hoarseness, changes in the voice, chronic earache, burning chest pains, nausea or sinusitis. Other symptoms include regurgitation (food may come back up into the mouth), chest pain, a difficulty in swallowing (a.k.a. dysphagia), hoarseness and asthma. For most people with acid reflux, the unpleasant symptoms can really affect the quality of life.

The treatment for GERD depends on how severe your symptoms are. Most treatments aim at decreasing the amount of reflux or reducing damage to the lining of the esophagus from refluxed materials and range from lifestyle changes to medicines to surgery.

Acid reflux is a common occurrence for many people and there are treatments available, so it doesn't have to be a major issue. However, acid reflux can lead to severe problems if left untreated. It shouldn't be ignored or taken lightly.