There are hidden signs of acid reflux you should be aware of. Not knowing that you are experiencing acid reflux can be dangerous as this can lead to more serious diseases and even cancer.

The most common signs of acid reflux are usually obvious like heartburn, a feeling of food stuck in your throat and nausea. These symptoms are the result of stomach acid going up the esophagus. The hidden signs of acid reflux are also referred to as the silent symptoms of acid reflux disease which are not commonly recognized by the individual or even by the doctor.

Hidden signs of acid reflux are symptoms that people rarely associate with acid reflux disease. These signs include:

• Wheezing
• Repetitive hoarseness
• Chronic sinus problems
• Difficulty swallowing
• Breathing difficulty often associated with asthma

With these hidden signs of acid reflux, it is possible for one to suffer from GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease without even being aware of it. If GERD continues without treatment, it could cause more serious health issues like esophageal cancer. Often, the silent symptoms of acid reflux disease are accompanied by heartburn so if you recognize the above signs, waste no time and consult your doctor or adopt a method to minimize the occurrence of acid reflux.

Tackling the Hidden Signs of Acid Reflux

After recognizing the hidden signs of acid reflux, the next step for you is to find a way to stop them. Avoiding acid reflux is easy enough to do though it also calls for self-discipline.

Here are some ways to prevent acid reflux:

• Find out your food triggers. There’s a long list of foods that can cause acid reflux but avoiding all these does not really ensure you’ll never experience acid reflux again. You have to employ a trial and error basis to determine which foods cause your acid reflux. Greasy foods, spicy foods, chocolates, coffee, alcohol, tomato sauce, citrus fruits, sweets and peppermint are foods that likely cause acid reflux.

• If you’re overweight, lose weight. Acid reflux may be due to all the fat surrounding your organs which also put pressure to your stomach. If there’s increased pressure on the stomach, the contents as well as stomach acids are easily pushed back up the esophagus causing irritation and heartburn.

• Don’t rely on antacids. No matter what advertisers tell you about not having to restrict your diet as long as you take antacids before a meal and again afterwards, the fact remains that antacids disrupt the acidity level of your stomach. Your stomach needs an acidic environment in order to digest foods. By doing things like avoiding heartburn triggers, eating several small meals instead of 3 large ones a day and avoiding lying down after eating, you can minimize acid reflux and your need for antacids is reduced.

• Other things you can do to minimize the hidden signs of acid reflux include not wearing tight clothing, not exercising on a full stomach and not overfilling your stomach.

If you start experiencing the hidden signs of acid reflux on a regular basis or more than once or twice a week even after making changes and taking steps to avoid or minimize reflux, you should speak with your physician about it already.