6. Difficulty Swallowing Food
People who experience difficulty with swallowing suffer from a condition known as dysphagia. It’s a common side-effect of GERD and people with gastrointestinal disorder may notice it occurs more frequently where their gastrointestinal symptoms peak.
The chronic reflux of stomach acids into the lower esophagus can scar the tissue in your throat, leading to the development of dysphagia. This scar tissue narrows the esophagus, making it difficult to swallow. This scarring effect is called an esophageal stricture.
Some affected individuals find that they can drink liquids with no issues, while they struggle to swallow food. Others may find it hard to drink fluids, but easy to eat meals, while others may not be able to consume food or liquids.
Doctors treat esophageal stricture using medications. Proton pump inhibitors, (PPIs,) are drugs that relieve the symptoms of GERD by reducing the production of stomach acid. These medications also help to heal the erosion of the esophagus due to acid reflux.