Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) happens when stomach acid flows back into your food pipe. You may feel a burning pain in your chest, a sour taste in your mouth or discomfort after meals.
It is common to treat mild heartburn with over-the-counter remedies and lifestyle changes. The problem is that sometimes, these simple fixes just don’t do enough.
This is one of the reasons why you may be advised to see a GERD specialist in Singapore. Just as the name suggests, GERD specialists specialise on treating acid reflux and its complications.
But, when should you see one? Keep reading to find out!
What are the Most Common Symptoms of GERD?
To begin with, GERD stands for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. It happens when the valve at the bottom of your oesophagus (food pipe) does not close properly.
Because of this, stomach acid and partly digested food may flow back up. Over time, this backflow irritates the lining of your oesophagus and can cause inflammation and discomfort.
Symptoms of GERD can vary from person to person. However, here are the main signs you may notice:
- Heartburn: You feel a burning pain behind your breastbone. This often rises from the stomach into your chest and can worsen after eating or when lying down. Frequent heartburn—more than twice a week—usually indicates GERD rather than occasional reflux.
- Regurgitation: You might taste sour or bitter fluid at the back of your throat. Sometimes, you bring up small amounts of food or liquid. This happens when stomach contents push back up the oesophagus. Regurgitation can end up causing bad breath or a sore throat.
- Chest Pain: Sharp pains in your chest may feel like a heart attack. They often follow meals and ease with antacids. If chest pain strikes, you will want to rule out heart problems first, then consider GERD.
- Difficulty Swallowing (Dysphagia): If you have GERD, you may feel as if food is stuck in your throat. This occurs as a result of muscles in the oesophagus getting narrow or inflamed. The narrowing can make swallowing uncomfortable or even painful.
- Chronic Cough or Hoarseness: Acid that reaches your throat can irritate the vocal cords. This causes a persistent cough or hoarse voice. You might also wake up with a sore throat, especially in the morning.
Can GERD be Self-treated?
The symptoms of GERD above can be frustrating and you might wonder; can GERD be self-treated? The answer is yes, in some cases GERD can be self-treated, especially if symptoms are mild and infrequent.
However, we strongly recommend consulting a GERD specialist in Singapore if you get symptoms which are persistent, severe, or don’t respond to over-the-counter treatments. If your symptoms appear only once in a while or feel mild, you may want to try by first, adjusting your diet.
This can be as simple as avoiding spicy, fatty or acidic foods like oranges, tomatoes and chocolate. These foods can weaken the valve that keeps acid down. Instead of those foods, choose bland options like rice, steamed vegetables and lean proteins.
Another self-treatment recommendation is to basically watch your portion sizes. Eating large meals can push up stomach acid so, try smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day.
Also, do not lie down right after eating. Wait two to three hours before you recline. Speaking of lying down, poor sleep can worsen GERD by allowing acid to flow when you lie down.
So, you may want to change your sleep habits as well. Raise the head of your bed by 10 to 15 centimetres to use gravity to keep acid in your stomach.
You can place sturdy blocks under each bedpost or use a wedge pillow. If you smoke or drink alcohol, you will also want to cease as both can relax the valve between your stomach and oesophagus.
That relaxation makes acid reflux more likely. Not to forget, keep an eye on your weight as well. Carrying extra pounds can increase pressure on your stomach and losing even a small amount often eases reflux.
How do you Know if your GERD is Serious?
Sometimes home remedies and over-the-counter treatments do not solve GERD. To check if your GERD is serious, keep an eye out for these warning signs;
- Frequent or Severe Heartburn: Experiencing heartburn more than twice a week or pain that keeps you up at night is a red flag. Regular antacids or acid blockers may not help long term. A specialist can run tests—like oesophageal pH monitoring—to measure how often acid comes up.
- Trouble Swallowing or Feeling Food Stuck: When food feels stuck in your chest or throat, it suggests the valve has become tight or inflamed. A specialist may perform a gastroscopy to see if scarring or strictures block your oesophagus. Early detection will let you treat the narrowing before it worsens.
- Unexplained Weight Loss: Losing weight without trying—especially if you have heartburn—can be indicative of a serious problem. If eating leads to pain or vomiting, you may want to avoid meals and lose weight. Schedule an appointment with a GERD specialist in Singapore to investigate the cause. They might recommend tests like an endoscopy to rule out ulcers or cancer.
- Persistent Cough, Hoarseness or Asthma-Like Symptoms: Acid can irritate vocal cords and airways, leading to chronic cough or wheezing. If your cough won’t go away despite using inhalers or cough medicine, acid reflux may be the culprit. Your GERD specialist in Singapore may recommend specific tests to see if reflux reaches your throat or lungs.
- Vomiting Blood or Black, Tarry Stools: These are signs of bleeding in your digestive tract. If your stools turn dark and sticky, acid damage may be severe enough to cause ulcers that bleed. We strongly recommend seeing a GERD specialist and possibly a gastroenterologist right away for such cases. They can perform urgent endoscopy and stop the bleed.
- Ineffective Over-the-Counter Medication: If antacids or histamine blockers (H2 blockers) no longer help, your condition may be more advanced. A specialist can prescribe stronger proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) or explore other treatments. They also check if your symptoms have shifted to something else, like eosinophilic oesophagitis.
Wrapping Up
We get it; deciding whether to see a GERD specialist in Singapore can feel a little confusing. However, once you know the warning signs, it should be easy.
Please, seek early care to prevent serious complications like ulcers, strictures or Barrett’s oesophagus. Always keep in mind that if home remedies no longer work, a GERD specialist in Singapore can help.
Book a consultation with our GERD specialist in Singapore today for expert tests, tailored treatment and peace of mind you deserve. Call or visit us at;
Andrea’s Digestive Clinic: Colon | Liver | Gallbladder | GERD | Acid Reflux Specialist
101 Irrawaddy Rd, #21-11/12 Royal Square Medical Centre, Singapore 329565
https://andrea-digestive-clinic.com/
Phone: +65 6264 2836
