People experience symptoms of acid reflux in a variety of ways. The most common symptom of acid reflux is heartburn. Other symptoms may include:

  • Chest pain
  • Regurgitation
  • Bloating
  • Asthma
  • Cough
  • Hoarseness
  • Clearing of the throat
  • Tooth enamel decay
  • Sleep disruption
  • Difficulty Swallowing

To see if you might have a more serious form of acid reflux called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), answer these four simple “Yes” or “No” questions below:

  1. Do you have Typical Symptoms daily or more than once each week?
  2. Are you taking prescription strength medication to manage your acid reflux symptoms and still having symptoms?
  3. Have you had Acid Reflux symptoms for more than one year?
  4. Are you having any difficulty swallowing food or feel that food gets stuck in your throat?

ANSWER: Yes – To At Least One Question?

Based on your response, you may have GERD. GERD is a more serious form of acid reflux. You should consider talking to your primary care physician or seeing a specialist like a gastroenterologist or GI surgeon about your symptoms.
To determine of you have GERD you would need a more thorough evaluation and testing.

ANSWER: No – To All Questions?

Based on these answers, you most likely have the form of acid reflux that can be easily managed with lifestyle changes or occasional over-the-counter antacids. If you are concerned that you have GERD, you should discuss this with your primary care physician.

This short questionnaire is not intended to diagnose GERD and you should not rely solely on this to make decisions about care of your symptoms.