Acid reflux is a very common condition which features a burning pain in the lower part of the chest, known as heartburn. Aside from heartburn, the symptoms of acid reflux can cause sore throats and a hoarseness in voice often accompanied by a bad taste in the mouth.
When acid reflux occurs repeatedly, the symptoms may become chronic, a condition known as Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disorder which is commonly known as GERD. The most common symptom of GERD is heartburn, pain in the upper abdomen and chest that feels like a heart attack. The most common reasons for GERD include poor clearance of food or acid from the oesophagus often due to poor valve function that lies between the stomach and oesophagus, too much acid in the stomach and delayed stomach emptying.
Conventional medications include medicines called proton pump inhibitors which stop acid production but are not without side effects, and antacids which neutralise excess stomach acid which also present their own side effects.
