Regurgitation occurs as a symptom of some ailments that affect the digestive system. It causes newly consumed food to back up into your throat before it is digested. When it happens, you may feel like acid is moving up from your stomach into your throat or mouth. The problem can cause a bitter or sour taste in your mouth.
This action is often linked to issues like acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Treating the problem usually starts with finding the underlying condition that triggers this symptom. Relief can often be found with drugs, lifestyle changes, and surgery.
This article describes regurgitation's causes and characteristics. It also discusses ways to prevent this problem and keep food down.
When to Seek Emergency Care for Regurgitation
Regurgitation usually doesn't indicate a medical emergency. However, symptoms of acid reflux can be similar to symptoms of a heart attack (an interruption of blood flow to your heart). You should seek emergency medical care if any of the following symptoms accompany regurgitation:
Regurgitation typically occurs as a symptom of a disease that interferes with the normal digestive process. In healthy people, food moves from the mouth through the esophagus, the muscular tube that connects your stomach with the back of your pharynx (throat).
The esophagus is a hollow tube that starts at the bottom of your throat and passes through your diaphragm to your stomach. The upper esophageal sphincter is a muscle at the top of your esophagus that helps prevent food and liquid from going down your windpipe or returning from the esophagus.
When food reaches the end of your esophagus, a ring of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter relaxes so chewed food can pass into your stomach. It also prevents food from coming up out of the stomach and back into your esophagus.
Regurgitation often involves problems with either the upper or lower esophageal sphincter. Finding the problem preventing the normal digestive process and causing regurgitation can be difficult since these disorders have overlapping symptoms.
Regurgitation is most commonly linked with one of the following conditions:
Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER)
Gastroesophageal reflux (GER), also referred to as acid reflux, occurs when the contents of your stomach back up into your esophagus. These contents can include stomach acid or bile (a yellowish-green digestive fluid).
GER is often related to a malfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter that fails to close properly to prevent food particles from returning to the esophagus. Occasional GER is considered normal.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
GERD is a chronic (long-lasting) form of GER. With GERD, symptoms are frequent. Episodes of acid reflux become common enough to cause problems with your daily life. This can include trouble sleeping or damage to your esophagus.
Approximately 80% of GERD patients experience regurgitation with varying degrees of severity. In addition to regurgitation, almost all people with GERD experience heartburn (a burning sensation in the middle of your chest), and at least 50% of people with GERD have dysphagia (difficulty swallowing).
Rumination Disorder
Rumination disorder is a relatively rare eating disorder that involves the uncontrollable and frequent regurgitation of food lasting at least one month. People with this behavioral disorder rechew, swallow, or spit out the contents. Rumination disorder most often affects infants, young children, and people with intellectual disabilities, but it can also occur in adolescents and adults.
Rumination disorder occurs as a reflex without effort. It usually starts with a belch or burp after a meal and occurs before the food has mixed with stomach acids and is digested.
Other Conditions
Regurgitation can also result from the following conditions:
Learn More: The Most Common Gastrointestinal Diseases
Regurgitation characteristics can vary by person. They can also differ in severity based on the cause of your regurgitation. Regurgitation characteristics can include the following:
Since regurgitation occurs as a symptom of GERD, the following common symptoms of this condition may also occur with regurgitation:
Regurgitation vs. Vomiting
Regurgitation and vomiting can both cause the involuntary expulsion of swallowed food. While regurgitation is often regarded as vomiting, these are two distinct symptoms that differ in the following ways:
Regurgitation
Vomiting
Preventing regurgitation typically involves one or more of the following strategies:
Lifestyle Changes
Dietary Changes
Follow a GERD diet, which includes avoiding the following foods that can cause heartburn:
Consume drinks that help reduce acid and relieve regurgitation, which include the following:
Medications
Over-the-counter antacids include:
Over-the-counter histamine-2 antagonists include:
Over-the-counter and prescription proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) include:
Antireflux Surgery
Surgery can involve either of the following:
Regurgitation is the involuntary return of consumed food up your throat into your mouth. This occurs before the food is digested.
The problem can feel like acid is moving up from your stomach into your throat or mouth. It can cause a sour or bitter taste in your mouth. This can lead to bad breath and tooth decay.
This issue is a symptom of several types of gastrointestinal problems. It can also occur from a rare eating disorder or a physical problem. Many of these problems have similar symptoms so getting the right diagnosis can be a challenge.
Chronic regurgitation can decrease your quality of life. Treatment that includes lifestyle changes, proper breathing, and drugs can often provide relief. For more severe cases, surgery that repairs the lower esophageal sphincter can often reduce symptoms.
2023-06-08T19:12:50Z dg43tfdfdgfd