I’ve had sharp, stabbing pains in the upper stomach area (and a multitude of other symptoms) for a few months now and they seem to be getting worse. How can I differentiate between GERD or acid reflux type symptoms, and something like aortic stenosis or an aortic dissection.

Lately my throat has felt like its burning and acid-y. It also feels like I have to burp after I eat. Are these symptoms of acid reflux?

I’m a firm believer that the world is over-prescribed. I think that pharmaceutical companies just want to give you a pill for everything under the sun. So with that in mind I never thought I would get acid reflux disease. I always thought that I could just live with general acid reflux, because so many people have in the past and they got along just fine.
So my question is: how can you tell if you have acid reflux? What are the symptoms and if I have it, how can I reduce it without medication.

Thanks in advance.