is it GERD?

Hello : I have been reading online for so many days nows, have read cases similar to mine, but not the exact thing or correct diagnosis perhaps. My husband is 30 years old, a smoker, but in good shape, not overweight. For about a month now he's been feeling "heartattack-like symptoms". We've been to the ER several times, have taken x-rays and EKG's, and thankfully nothing is wrong with any of his organs or heart. However, doctors have not been able to pinpoint what is wrong with him. He's constantly full of gas, always burping, from the minute he wakes up until he sleeps. He's mostly uncomfortable at night. He has developed dark cirlces around his eyes, constant headaches, pain in his chest, wheezing, has a hard time breathing, and cannot take in a full yawn. His symptoms have become really agitating especially not knowing what he has. We've started suspecting it might be GERD, but have  been told recently that he has problems with his Colon because of stress. The medications he's on for Colon has not helped him and I've read online, he barely has any symptoms of a colon disease. Please advice what we should do, or what this could be. As this situation has become very frustrating and he is in an unpleasant mood constantly and has lost complete focus on our life. Help!!

[Ratnakar Kini, MD]

Hi,
GERD is likely.It can be confirmed with 24 hours pH monitoring test.Alternatively he can take prilosec otc.If his symptoms are due to GERD, this medication would provide relief.
GERD can cause asthma like symptoms ( one of its complications).Pulmonary function  test may be done for evaluation.