Reason 4: Heartburn or GERD
Despite many not paying attention to it too much, heartburn, which is known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a condition that many Americans have to deal with. And while some just write it off as something that can happen when you eat too much of something hearty, it is a condition that can affect you in more ways than one.
GERD is actually caused by the fact that the muscles between the stomach and your esophagus don’t tighten and close properly, which leads to the acid from your stomach going back up the food pipe. The acid will then irritate the esophagus, which is what causes the burning sensation that we all know as heartburn.
However, that burning sensation is not the only symptom of GERD. If you suffer from it, you will feel like you have something in your throat or that your throat is tight, along with experiencing issues when swallowing. Other signs that you may have GERD include bad breath and a sour taste, a hoarse voice and dry coughing, the possibility of burping liquid, and chest pains similar to those of a heart attack.
