Heartburn. A burning feeling in your chest after dinner. A sour taste at the back of your throat. Sitting up in the night as lying in bed feels worse. 

Reflux is one of the most common things we see. Most of the time it is easy to manage. But it is worth knowing what helps, and when to get it checked.

What is reflux?

At the bottom of your food pipe is a ring of muscle. It acts like a valve, letting food into your stomach and keeping acid in.

Sometimes this valve doesn’t close properly. Stomach acid then leaks back up into your food pipe. That is reflux.

How does it feel?

• A burning pain in the middle of your chest, known as heartburn
• A sour or bitter taste in your mouth
• Food or liquid coming back up into your throat
• Symptoms that are worse after eating, when you bend over or when you lie down

Some people also get a cough, a hoarse voice or a sore throat. These are less common, and they can have other causes too.

Small changes, big difference

For mild reflux, simple changes often help.

• Eat smaller meals, more often
• Leave three hours between your last meal and bedtime
• Raise the head of your bed by 10 to 20cm. Extra pillows alone don’t work as well
• Lose weight if you are carrying extra
• Stop smoking
• Cut down on alcohol, coffee and fizzy drinks
• Notice your own triggers. Spicy food, fatty food, chocolate, citrus and tomatoes are common ones

Everyone is different. If a food doesn’t bother you, there is no need to avoid it.

Your pharmacist can help

Antacids and acid-lowering tablets are available without a prescription. They work well for occasional heartburn.

If you find you need them most days, it is time to see us.

When to see us

Book an appointment if:

• You have heartburn on two or more days a week
• Pharmacy treatments aren’t helping
• Reflux is affecting your sleep, eating or daily life
• You have had symptoms for three weeks or more
• You are over 55 and this is new for you

We can usually treat reflux without many tests. It is worth checking for a bacteria call Helicobacter prior to starting treatment. If found positive-it requires antibiotic treatment.

Most people start with a course of acid-lowering tablets for four to eight weeks.

If they work, we slowly lower the dose to the smallest amount that keeps you comfortable. Stopping suddenly can make the acid bounce back, so it is best to cut down gently with our help.

Don’t ignore these signs

Please see us promptly if you have reflux with:

• Difficulty swallowing, or food that feels stuck
• Weight loss you can’t explain
• Vomiting that keeps happening
• Feeling very tired or looking pale, which can mean a low blood count

Call 999 or go to A&E if you:

• Vomit blood, or something that looks like coffee grounds
• Pass black, sticky poo
• Have chest pain that spreads to your arm, neck or jaw, or comes with sweating or breathlessness

Chest pain can be a heart problem, not reflux. If you are ever unsure, get it checked straight away.

Is all heartburn reflux?

Not always.

Some people have heartburn even though very little acid is coming up. The food pipe can simply become extra sensitive. Stress and worry can make this worse.

This is why acid-lowering tablets don’t help everyone. If yours haven’t worked, we may suggest a camera test called a gastroscopy, or a different kind of treatment. A sensitive food pipe is not dangerous, and it can be treated.

Feel comfortable again

Reflux is common, and it rarely means anything serious. With a few changes and the right treatment, most people feel much better.

If heartburn is spoiling your meals or your sleep book to see your doctor.