Reflux Without Heartburn: Is It Possible?

How and why does a person suffer from the condition without a symptom? Here we are discussing these issues.

Reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease is a disorder which affects the lower esophageal sphincter - a one-way valve that should open only to allow food to enter the stomach. But a weakened sphincter often opens up in a reverse direction, allowing the stomach contents along with the stomach acids to flow back into the esophagus. This results in severe heartburn, caused due to the acid irritating the esophagus. However, in certain cases, there is no heartburn.

In a way, reflux without heartburn is even worse than the GERD disease. That is because when there is heartburn, it is a symptom that something is wrong. But when there is no heartburn, the symptoms are not present, and so identifying the disease become difficult. So in most cases where there is no heartburn, the consequences are grave. The absence of heartburn prevents the person from taking corrective measures timely.

Why and How it Happens

When the upper part of the stomach moves up into the chest through a small opening in the diaphragm, hiatal hernia forms. Since the diaphragm is also a muscle that separates the stomach from the chest, the small opening within it starts acting as an auxiliary sphincter around the lower end of the esophagus.

Thus, even if the original sphincter fails to halt the backflow of the acidic stomach contents into the esophagus, the auxiliary sphincter does the job to a great extent. And since no acidic residue can reach the esophagus, there is no heartburn. This is how the disease may happen even if there is no heartburn.

However, though there may not be any heartburn (when affected by hiatal hernia), there could be other symptoms like wheezing, coughing, minor chest pain and retching. So the disease can still be identified even if there is no heartburn. These symptoms happen as the sphincter-like diaphragmatic muscle do not allow the reflux to reach the esophagus, which is what happens in most cases of GERD.

Here are Some Other Causes

A person may have reflux and no heartburn when antacids or acid inhibiting drugs are administered on a regular course. In such cases, reflux may occur due to the weakening LES but the acidity in such cases is much below the standard level does not warrantee heartburn. When this happens, there is reflux, but no heartburn.

Is there a treat?

Sadly, the condition cannot be treatd by administrating conventional medicines. But luckily, holistic remedies can solve the problem. Yes in most cases, reflux without heartburn can be treatd with such natural remedies.