4. Persistent Cough Frequent acid reflux can irritate your esophagus, larynx, and voice box from exposure to stomach acid. You may develop a chronic cough, wheezing, and other breathing difficulties.

Being overweight can also be a factor in acid reflux, so losing weight can help reduce symptoms, too. But these alternatives don’t work for everyone, Lakshminarayan said.

“Acid reflux is very common and can be really uncomfortable for patients,” says Magee. “Medications can be very good at controlling the symptoms and are generally well tolerated.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) impacts about 20% of adults in the U.S. Here's what experts want you to know about causes and treatments.

Dr. Pimentel echoed these sentiments and added another reason to flag acid reflux with a healthcare provider. “Some people are surprised at how severe the symptoms of acid reflux are.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) impacts about 20% of adults in the U.S. Here's what experts want you to know about causes and treatments.

“Some 6 in 10 women over age 50 have acid reflux, but only 9% of them show classic symptoms,” says Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, author of From Fatigued to Fantastic!

"Though acid reflux may not seem like the obvious cause of these symptoms, it’s important to consider that it often is," says Hoscheit. What is the main cause of GERD?

Acid reflux is a condition in which acid from the stomach backflows up into the esophagus. GERD is the name of a chronic condition that causes frequent symptoms or damage to the esophagus as a ...

Whether your physician talks to you about acid reflux disease or GERD, both are names for the same disease. GERD is simply short for Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease.

But if you have acid reflux more than twice a week or your symptoms have gone from mild to excessive, you might have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and it shouldn’t be ignored.