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Heartburn is a burning feeling in the chest caused by stomach acid travelling up towards the throat (acid reflux). If it keeps happening, it may be called gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).
The main symptoms of acid reflux are:
You may also have:
Symptoms are often worse after eating, when lying down and when bending over.
Lots of people get heartburn from time to time. There's often no obvious reason why.
Sometimes it's caused or made worse by:
Simple lifestyle changes can help stop or reduce heartburn.
eat smaller, more frequent meals
try to lose weight if you're overweight
try to find ways to relax
do not have food or drink that triggers your symptoms
do not eat within 3 or 4 hours before bed
do not wear clothes that are tight around your waist
do not smoke
do not drink too much alcohol
do not stop taking any prescribed medicine without speaking to a doctor first
You may find that using wood, bricks or books to raise the head of your bed by around 10 to 20cm, so your chest and head are above your waist, helps relieve symptoms. This can help stop stomach acid travelling up towards your throat.
But do not try to achieve the same effect by using additional pillows, as this can increase pressure on your belly and make your symptoms worse.
Speak to a pharmacist for advice if you keep getting heartburn.
They may recommend medicines called antacids or alginates that can help ease your symptoms.
It's best to take these with food or soon after eating, as this is when you're most likely to get heartburn. They may also work for longer if taken with food.
Although antacids and alginates help symptoms in the short term, they will not cure the problem and should not be taken regularly for long periods.
If you're pregnant, a pharmacist can advise you about medicines you can take.
A GP can provide alternative or stronger treatments and help rule out any more serious causes of your symptoms.
If at any time you feel your symptoms are getting worse, contact a GP, go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.
If you have acid reflux, a GP may prescribe a medicine called a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that reduces how much acid your stomach makes.
PPIs include:
You'll usually need to take this type of medicine for 4 or 8 weeks, depending on how serious your acid reflux is.
Go back to the GP if your symptoms return after stopping your medicine. You may need a long-term prescription.
If a PPI does not help, your doctor may suggest trying a different type of medicine called an H2 receptor antagonist, such as famotidine.
If medicines do not help or your symptoms are severe, a GP may refer you to a specialist for:
