Chapter 1: Clinical Overview
The severity and frequency of symptoms varies between patients and may vary at different times for each patient. Symptoms may include:
Heartburn
This is a discomfort or burning chest pain.
This pain can rise up and spread to the neck, throat and jaw.
The pain is often worse after eating a large meal, when lying down and when bending over.
Regurgitation
This is when stomach acid and other stomach contents come back up into the throat and mouth.
This causes an unpleasant, sour taste.
Difficulty Swallowing
There may be difficulty swallowing, especially things like meat, bread and pastry.
It can feel like a lump in the throat.
GORD can have additional symptoms of:
Vomiting
A persistent cough and / or wheezing
Tooth decay
Inflammation of the voice box (laryngitis)
Bloating, belching and bad breath.
Heartburn or heart attack?
Chest pain is a common cause of people attending hospital emergency departments. While many people may be suffering a heart attack, some have severe heartburn.
Some patients will present at the pharmacy, and it is difficult to tell heartburn and heart attack apart.
Heart attack warning signs – call 000:
Chest pain lasting more than a few minutes
Shortness of breath
Pain in jaw, arm, back, neck or stomach
Sudden sweating
Nausea
Lightheadedness and dizziness.
If you are unsure refer your patient to the pharmacist.
