If your only symptom is excess saliva, can this be caused by GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)?
Excess saliva can be caused by a number of conditions, but can this symptom be the only presentation of acid reflux?
“GERD is a condition that causes an abnormal amount of acid to reside in the esophagus,” says Jay Desai, MD, who specializes in colon cancer screening, upper endoscopy and consultative gastroenterology with the Endoscopy Center of New York.
“Some patients will not experience the classic sensation of burning; however, they may still have acid exposure in the mouth and esophagus which could manifest as excess saliva, coughing or a hoarse voice. It’s important to note that the mechanisms for this are unclear.”
Have you found that severe, ongoing anxiety causes excess saliva?
The anxiety actually triggers acid reflux, and hence, the excess “saliva.”
However, this has nothing to do with the salivary glands becoming overly active.
At any rate, it’s a harmless symptom, and when the anxiety diminishes, you’ll notice that the symptom goes away. blood
Board certified in internal medicine and gastroenterology, Dr. Desai provides a wide range of GI services including for bacterial overgrowth, constipation, acid reflux and GERD, IBS, incontinence and small bowel disease. Twitter handle: @NYGADocs
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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