10 Symptoms and Signs of GERD

Pain when swallowing. The cells lining the throat and esophagus are not designed to withstand the ravages of stomach acid. Chronic refluxing of stomach contents causes those linings to become inflamed, swollen, and damaged over time. People with GERD may experience pain and difficulty when trying to swallow food, which becomes stuck in the narrowed esophagus and further irritates the damaged lining.