Q. Can hypersalivation be the only symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Yes, hypersalivation can be a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Hyper salivation is when a person produces excessive amounts of saliva from the mouth which often accompanies a feeling of nausea and discomfort. It is actually quite common among GERD sufferers and can occur on its own or in combination with other symptoms such as heartburn, chest pain, sore throat, hoarseness, vomiting, excessive burping and bloating to name a few.
The term for this condition is sialorrhea; however it is more commonly referred to as "water brash" in association with GERD. This includes not only the increased production of saliva but also an increase in its viscosity causing it to be particularly bothersome if it isn’t immediately swallowed or spit out.
Many factors are associated with hypersalivation including lifestyle choices such as drinking alcohol or caffeine-containing beverages which have been shown to aggravate GERD symptoms due to their acidic content; eating certain kinds foods like spicy items or citrus fruits which may cause irritation within the esophagus; stress overload that may lead individuals who are prone to the condition seeking comfort through overeating; weakened lower esophageal sphincter muscles resulting from obesity or certain medications used for treating other medical conditions; smoking etc… In these cases managing dietary habits along with medication prescribed by one’s physician usually helps reduce occurrences.
There are some more serious medical conditions that can also instigate GERD driven sialorrhea like problems linked directly with neurologic damage caused by stroke brain injury multiple sclerosis cerebral palsy etc… Gastrointestinal issues like diabetes mellitus pancreatitis cholecystitis intestinal obstruction intestinal pseudo-obstruction etc… Diseases related to respiratory system asthma cystic fibrosis pulmonary embolism obstructive sleep apnea etc… These require further investigation and treatment tailored depending on individual circumstances need arise.
Therefore while hypersalivation could be considered an early warning sign for people already at risk due relying solely on this symptom alone should not suffice when it comes diagnosing presence absence gastrointestinal disorder such gerd consult doctor discuss underlying causes preventative measures same time seek proper diagnosis make sure any necessary treatments being applied order take control over health!
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