Heartburn is common – most of us will have experienced its uncomfortable symptoms at some
point. The good news is there are many things you can do to help reduce or manage your
heartburn symptoms and relief is available.
Heartburn can be described as a burning feeling or sensation that occurs when stomach acid rises up
into your throat. It can be an uncomfortable or painful experience that usually happens after eating.
People may refer to heartburn by many different names – including gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) or acid reflux for short.
The term ‘acid reflux’ gives a useful description of what is going on when you’re experiencing the uncomfortable symptoms of heartburn:
Occasional heartburn usually occurs after eating a meal. However, there are other risk factors and triggers that may mean heartburn is more likely to occur.
Common heartburn risks factors and triggers can include:
It’s a good idea to try to understand what can trigger your heartburn and learn how to avoid the discomfort of heartburn by making a few simple lifestyle changes – such as losing weight, eating smaller meals more frequently or stopping smoking.
If these changes don’t help then using over-the-counter medicines can be helpful in providing relief from heartburn symptoms.
There are a number of different over-the-counter heartburn medicines available including:
You should always speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medications to make sure they are right for you.
Mild occasional bouts of heartburn are common and not usually a cause for concern – but it’s important to talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you’re experiencing frequent heartburn (more than twice a week) or you feel like it’s getting severe or progressively worse.
Heartburn can be a very uncomfortable and distressing problem for some people – talking to your healthcare professional about what you’re experiencing may be the first step to managing your heartburn symptoms.
THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE HEALTH PROBLEMS OR REPLACE THE ADVICE OF A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL.