The symptoms of acid reflux disease in men and women are different

Acid reflux disease is a disease that is quite common in society. However, there are still many people who ignore the various symptoms of acid reflux that arise. In fact, if ignored this disease can lead to various fatal complications, for example barett esophageal disease to esophageal cancer.

According to a recent study in Australia, it turns out that the symptoms of acid reflux disease in men and women are different. Perhaps because of the difference in symptoms, many people become less alert and do not seek treatment. Check out the information below to find out the different symptoms.

What is acid reflux disease

This disease, also known as stomach acid reflux (GERD), is often mistaken for an ulcer. Basically, ulcers are a disease caused by increased production of stomach acid causing inflammation. Meanwhile, stomach acid disease occurs when stomach acid rises into the esophageal tract.

In general, the most commonly reported symptoms and complaints of acid reflux include chest pain, painful swallowing, sore throat, dry and lumpy throat, sour mouth, and coughing or shortness of breath.

Symptoms of acid reflux in women

An Australian study published in the journal Archives of Surgery found that complaints that were reported by women and men regarding acid reflux were not the same. In the study, which involved more than 5,000 people, the symptoms most often experienced by women included:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Chest pain in women is more common than in men
• More risk of having a hiatal hernia (the top of the stomach protrudes into the opening of the diaphragm)
• Generally, women with acid reflux are in the older age range than men
• Obese women are more likely to develop acid reflux disease than obese men

Symptoms of acid reflux in men

In contrast to women, acid reflux experienced by men is even more complicated. Here are some of the complaints and complications most commonly reported by men.

• More risk of having a weakened lower esophageal sphincter muscle (LES)
• More risk of developing esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus), barett esophagus, and esophageal cancer
• The symptoms that appear in men tend to be more serious than in women, but they are less common
• The average male patient with acid reflux disease is younger than female patients

Why are the complaints experienced by men and women different?

Researchers have not found a biological cause why women and men experience different complaints when attacked by acid reflux. The reason is, gender does not affect the work system (physiology) of your esophagus and stomach.

However, experts draw the conclusion that differences in symptoms of acid reflux disease are more due to social and cultural factors. According to the Australian study, women are more likely to see a doctor after experiencing symptoms than men. Meanwhile, most men underestimate or ignore the symptoms they experience, until the case is severe enough.

There are several things that trigger this. Usually women are more sensitive to body changes, pain, and certain complaints. Women also tend to be more proactive in seeking help from health workers. On the contrary with men. Despite feeling the symptoms and complaints of acid reflux disease, men often just let it go. This could be because men fear being diagnosed, see a doctor, or look weak. As a result, the likelihood of complications is greater in men.

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