Heartburn and Indigestion

This article has been written and medically approved by Pharmacist Conor McSorley GPhC Reg No. 2223070

Heartburn or indigestion is a real pain. It can disrupt your busy lifestyle and stop you doing things that you need to. Our guide should help you know what to expect, how to manage and when to ask for more help when you are suffering from heartburn or indigestion. 

What to expect?

Burning pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen or chest is usually the first sign of heartburn or indigestion. An unpleasant sour taste in your mouth may also be caused by the stomach acid rising up your stomach up your oesophagus (food pipe). These symptoms are commonly accompanied by nausea, belching or a cough that keeps coming back. Bending over, lying down and eating can exacerbate symptoms.

Dyspepsia is common, with up to four out of 10 people in any one year affected.

Symptoms will usually start to ease within one or two weeks but if you find that you are taking medicine to relieve symptoms regularly or for several weeks you will need to speak to your GP. 

What causes dyspepsia?

Heartburn and indigestion can be caused by a range of reasons. Typically, the most common cause tends to be stomach acid rising up your food pipe, known scientifically as your oesophagus. This can be caused by smoking, stress, pregnancy and certain foods such as fatty and fried meals or large meals within 3 to 4 hours before bed.

Taking certain medicines, including ibuprofen, can lead to an inflammation of the food pipe and another cause can be a hiatus hernia, where the stomach squeezes through the diaphragm muscle into the chest. A stomach ulcer or cancer of the stomach may also be responsible. 

Although most people do not need any tests, occasionally, no underlying cause can be found. If your symptoms are not controlled your GP may send you for further testing.

What can I do to help?

In 80% of cases, symptoms are drastically improved through a change in lifestyle, such as healthy eating or losing weight. Avoiding carbonated soft drinks, caffeine, alcohol and fatty or fried meals. Eat slowly and chew properly. Smoking can exacerbate your symptoms and therefore by reducing or stopping smoking it can help relieve the burn.

If you take over the counter anti-inflammatory medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen, these may be resulting in the heartburn or indigestion you are suffering from. Speak to your doctor for more advice about how they can help.

There is a range of over the counter medications that you can buy to help neutralise the acid in your stomach or reduce the symptoms you suffer from stomach acid. These come as a range of capsules, chewable tablets and liquids.

When should I consult a doctor?

 You should seek medical help if:

• Your symptoms last for most days for 3 weeks or do not respond to treatment
• You suffer from severe, persistent, worsening and unexplained pain in your upper abdomen
• You vomit blood or dark lumps that resemble coffee grounds
• Your stool colour has become very dark
• You feel faint or have recently collapsed
• You have difficulties with swallowing