Lump in your throat, dry cough, chest pain... 'This disease' might be the cause of it all | Incheon Reflux Esophagitis

Do any of the following experiences resonate with you?

"Every time I eat, my chest feels hot and painful, like it's burning. I worry if there's something wrong with my heart because of this chest pain."

"I don't have heartburn, but I constantly feel a lump in my throat, like phlegm is stuck there, which doesn't come out even when I try to clear it. My voice also gets hoarse frequently."

"I'm fine during the day, but as soon as I lie down to sleep, bitter fluid (acid reflux) comes up, causing me to cough dryly and often wake up."

"When I have indigestion, my entire back aches. Especially the middle of my back feels stiff and hot (back burning sensation)."

"When I wake up in the morning, my mouth tastes very bitter, and I feel like there's a metallic (blood-like) taste in my mouth."

Surprisingly, the root cause of all these diverse experiences could be just one thing: 'Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)'.

The problem is that many people only associate GERD with simple 'heartburn' and thus overlook the lifestyle habits that are the true underlying cause.

Hello, I am Dr. Choi Yeon-seung, Director of Baengnokdam Korean Medicine Clinic, and for 15 years, I have helped countless GERD patients with their painful symptoms.

In this post today, I will thoroughly explain why GERD manifests with such diverse symptoms and present the most practical ways to regain a comfortable daily life without relying solely on medication.

Why Does Our Body's 'City Gate' Open?

How can symptoms appearing in completely different areas such as the throat, back, and chest all be linked to a single cause: 'acid reflux'? To understand this secret, we must first learn about an important 'gate' within our body.

Between our stomach and esophagus, there is a muscle called the 'Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES)', which prevents powerful stomach acid from flowing back into the esophagus.

I often liken this to a firmly closed 'city gate'. This gate should open briefly only when food enters and then remain tightly shut to prevent stomach acid from escaping, like an ironclad defense.

However, when two problems occur, this gate opens, and 'acid reflux' begins.

1. When the gate itself becomes loose.
   Coffee, alcohol, greasy foods, and carbonated drinks can relax the muscles that form the gate. It's like the gate's hinges becoming old and loose, causing the gate to open on its own.
2. When the pressure inside the gate becomes too high.
   Overeating or indigestion can lead to excessive gas buildup in the stomach, or stress can cause the stomach to become overly tense, sharply increasing internal stomach pressure. No matter how sturdy the gate, it wouldn't be able to withstand a million troops pushing against it from the inside.

When this refluxed stomach acid travels up the esophagus and reaches the chest, it causes chest pain; when it irritates the throat and vocal cords, it causes a foreign body sensation in the throat and coughing; and when it stimulates the back nerves, it causes back pain.

The Upward-Surging Flames, 'Stomach Heat (胃熱)'

In Korean traditional medicine, acid reflux is not simply viewed as a problem of a weakened 'city gate'. Instead, it focuses on the fundamental question: "Why does the pressure inside the gate keep increasing?"

One of the core reasons for this is the accumulation of unnecessary heat (熱) in the stomach, which is known as 'Stomach Heat (胃熱)'.

Just as flames always burn upwards, the 'heat' in our body also tends to surge upwards. This is similar to how your face might flush when you're stressed or how you sweat from your head after eating spicy food.

Spicy and greasy foods, frequent alcohol consumption, and stress are the most common causes that accumulate this 'Stomach Heat' within our digestive system. This hot energy, built up in the stomach, bubbles like magma in a volcano, constantly pushing stomach acid and food upwards.

This is the principle in Korean traditional medicine that explains why acid reflux occurs and why a burning chest pain is felt.

5 Practical Ways to Prevent Acid Reflux

Relying solely on medication will never break the cycle of recurrence. Here are 5 of the most practical and effective lifestyle habits you can start today.

1. Get into the habit of sleeping on your 'left side'.
   This is one of the easiest yet most powerful methods. The anatomical structure of our stomach is slightly tilted to the left, so when you lie on your left side, the stomach entrance faces upwards, creating the most difficult angle for acid reflux to occur. Conversely, lying on your right side allows stomach acid to pool towards the esophagus. Be sure to pay attention to your sleeping position starting tonight.
2. Do not lie down for '3 hours' after eating.
   Lying down immediately after a meal is akin to giving up the help of gravity. When standing or sitting, gravity helps keep stomach acid down, but when you lie down, that defense line disappears. Avoid late-night snacks, and it's best to finish dinner at least 3 hours before going to bed.
3. Avoid anything that increases 'abdominal pressure'.
   When abdominal pressure increases, it squeezes the stomach, causing acid to reflux. Tight clothing: Avoid skinny jeans or shapewear that constrict your waist, and wear comfortable clothes. Strenuous exercise: Avoid exercises that put direct strain on the abdomen, such as sit-ups, and focus on light walks instead.
4. Remember the '4 worst foods'.
   While there are many unhealthy foods, remembering and avoiding just these four can be greatly helpful: coffee, alcohol, carbonated drinks, and greasy foods. These are the primary culprits that promote stomach acid secretion and weaken the esophageal sphincter.
5. Slightly 'raise your pillow height'.
   If you suffer from nocturnal reflux, slightly elevating your pillow to raise your upper body by about 15 degrees can help prevent acid reflux with the aid of gravity. However, it is crucial to find a height that does not strain your neck.

Reasons Why Recurring Acid Reflux Should Not Be Ignored

The most dangerous thing is to dismiss and neglect symptoms like acid reflux or heartburn, thinking, "It'll pass." Repeated exposure of the esophageal lining to strong stomach acid can lead to a condition where the cells themselves transform, known as 'Barrett's Esophagus', which can be a very serious stage that increases the risk of esophageal cancer.

The 'Golden Time' for GERD Treatment

The time is now. If you experience acid reflux or heartburn more than twice a week, do not dismiss it as "just the way it is" anymore. This is the most crucial 'golden time' to address the root causes and adopt healthy lifestyle habits before your esophageal lining sustains permanent damage.

While today's focus was on lifestyle habits, impaired gastric motility due to 'Damjeok' is also a frequent underlying cause of acid reflux. I will elaborate on this in detail if the opportunity arises soon.

Clinic Information

- Clinic Hours -
Mon-Fri 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Lunch Break 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

※ We do not offer individual consultations via the blog.

For appointments and inquiries regarding consultations, please check our Naver Place or Official Website.

Baengnokdam Korean Medicine Clinic
3rd Floor, Songdo Dream City, 81 Convensia-daero, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon