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UNDERSTANDING HEARTBURN2

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WHAT IS HEARTBURN?1

Heartburn is a painful, burning feeling in the middle of your chest. It’s not really in your heart, though. It’s caused by stomach acid rising into your oesophagus(reflux), which runs through your chest, close to your heart.

HEARTBURN SYMPTOMS2

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The main symptoms of acid reflux are:

  • Heartburn - a burning sensation in the middle of your chest
  • An unpleasant sour taste in your mouth, caused by stomach acid

YOU MAY ALSO HAVE:2

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  • A cough or hiccups that keep coming back
  • A hoarse voice
  • Bad breath
  • Bloating and feeling sick

Symptoms are often worse after eating, when lying down and when bending over.

 

HEARTBURN CAUSES2

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Lots of people get heartburn from time to time. There's often no obvious reason why. Sometimes it's caused or made worse by:

  • Being overweight
  • Smoking
  • Pregnancy
  • Certain food and drink – such as coffee, tomatoes, alcohol, chocolate and fatty or spicy foods
  • A hiatus hernia - when part of the stomach moves up into the chest

MEDICATIONS TO TREAT HEARTBURN4

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Antacids: Alkaline liquids or tablets that reduce the amount of stomach acid. They usually work immediately. They are best taken after meals and before going to bed.

Alginates: These are products that form a thick protective layer on top of the stomach contents and help reduce reflux symptoms. These can be useful to take after meals and before going to bed to reduce night-time symptoms. Some medications are a combination of both antacids and alginates.

Acid-supressing medications: Capsules or tablets which reduce the amount of acid produced by the cells in your stomach.
These are split into 2 groups:

  • Histamine H2-receptor antagonists (H2 blockers)
  • Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)

PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS7

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are medicines that work by reducing the amount of stomach acid made by glands in the lining of your stomach. Certain PPIs are available over the counter (OTC) without a prescription

HOW PPIs HELP YOU7

Proton pump inhibitors are used to:

  • Relieve symptoms of acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This is a condition in which food or liquid moves up from the stomach to the esophagus (the tube from the mouth to the stomach)
  • Treat a duodenal or stomach (gastric) ulcer
  • Treat damage to the lower esophagus caused by acid reflux

Certain PPIs don’t require a prescription and are used to relieve acid reflux or GERD symptoms.

WAYS TO EASE HEARTBURN YOURSELF2

Simple lifestyle changes can help stop or reduce heartburn.

DO’S2

  • Eat smaller, more frequent meals
  • Try to lose weight if you're overweight
  • Try to find ways to relax

DON’Ts2

  • 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

ACID REFLUX: THE CAUSE5

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Acid reflux is when the contents of your stomach—like food or acids—go in the wrong direction. They travel from your stomach back to your throat through the tube connecting them, your esophagus.

When you have acid reflux, you may taste food or stomach acid in the back of your mouth. This can be uncomfortable and make you feel sick. Acid reflux is also referred to as GER (gastroesophageal reflux).