7. Sour Taste: The Unexpected Zing of DES
Woken up with a peculiar sour taste in your mouth? No, it’s not just remnants of last night’s lemonade. It could be a symptom of DES. What happens is that stomach acids can make an unwelcome appearance in your esophagus due to those spasms, changing the pH levels and leaving a lingering sourness on your palate.
The science behind this is that the valve at the bottom of the esophagus, known as the lower esophageal sphincter, fails to keep stomach contents at bay when spasms occur. The result is a backward flow, and with it comes that acidic taste, making you feel like you just bit into an unplanned sour candy.
Now, you might think a glass of water will wash it away, but this symptom is rather persistent. It can last for hours and tends to return at the most inconvenient moments. In social situations, it can be a silent buzzkill. You could be enjoying a flavorful meal and then, boom, it hits you. You’re left trying to ignore this uninvited sour guest at the table. (7)
