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Acid Reflux

Acid reflux, also known as heartburn, is a common condition that involves the movement of stomach acid up into the chest, which causes an unpleasant and uncomfortable burning in the chest.

Symptoms may typically be worse after eating, bending over, or lying down. Luckily, Pharmacy Online has a range of gastro-resistant tablets to help alleviate symptoms of acid reflux - but you should choose the right solution for your needs.

The Causes Of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Acid reflux occurs when there's too much acid in your oesophagus, but many factors can contribute to the condition. While many believe that an unhealthy diet is the root cause of acid reflux, there can be causes that are out of your control.

Diet

Most cases of acid reflux are due to a poor diet, especially when a person consumes a lot of fatty or acidic foods. Common contributors include:

  • Deep-Fried Foods
  • Spicy Foods (especially creamy dishes)
  • Tomato
  • Citrus Fruits
  • Fatty Foods

 

Mint can also create problems - especially if you have a sensitive stomach, and some people are pretty sensitive to garlic or onions. Surprisingly, chocolate can also cause GERD symptoms.

Drinks

Most people know that alcohol can contribute to acid reflux, but carbonated drinks, coffee and tea might also aggravate your symptoms. It's also important to note that decaffeinated versions of these drinks won't reduce acid reflux.

Smoking

Smoking is a significant contributor to potentially fatal diseases, so, understandably, people forget it can also cause gastroesophageal reflux disease. People who smoke can:

  • Negatively impact their throat muscle reflexes
  • Elevate acid secretion
  • Damage their mucus membranes
  • Decrease salivation

 

Smoking is also a significant risk cancer for oesophagal cancer, which often results in operations that make you more prone to excess acid.

Taking Ibuprofen and Naproxen

Ibuprofen and Naproxen are effective anti-inflammatory medications, but they can impact the lining of your stomach, which results in acid reflux. If someone needs to take regular medication for arthritis, endometriosis or other inflammatory conditions, they're more at risk of excess acid.

Medicines such as Omaperazole can protect the stomach lining, but heartburn medication can also be effective in neutralising the acid.

Pregnancy

It's common for women to experience heartburn symptoms during pregnancy, primarily due to the excess hormones. This usually occurs in the third trimester, and the symptoms will disappear after labour.

Stomach Problems

Hiatal hernias occur when the lower oesophagal sphincter and upper stomach move above your diaphragm. As your diaphragm controls acid from moving into your chest, a hiatal hernia will reduce its ability to block acid resulting in reflux.

You can also aggravate your stomach by overeating, not chewing your food correctly and lying down after a meal.

What Are The Symptoms Of Acid Reflux?

Acid reflux is a common condition, and many people will experience the symptoms at some point in their life. It can be extremely painful and creates a burning pain in your stomach and chest area.

Let's take a look at the main symptoms of acid reflux.

Regurgitation

If you've ever experienced regurgitation, you'll know how horrible it is - but unfortunately - it's a common symptom of excess acid. It occurs when acid backs up into your throat and mouth, and many people call this 'wet burping'.

Regurgitation often results in a bitter or sour taste in your mouth, and it's a very intense sensation.

Heartburn

Heartburn symptoms include pain in the chest, stomach and throat. Most would describe the pain as a severe burning sensation - hence the name. You'll often notice the pain begins in your stomach and gradually moves up to the throat.

Dyspepsia

In its simplest form, dyspepsia is an umbrella term for stomach pain, but there are some distinct symptoms when it occurs due to excess acid. You'll probably notice you feel sick after eating, burp excessively, feel full and bloated, and you might have generalised abdominal pain.

Risk Factors

When someone has acid reflux, they have to manage the condition, and certain lifestyle factors can make the symptoms much worse. As we mentioned before, acid reflux is common during pregnancy but often goes away after delivery, so it's more about managing the symptoms.

However, if your reflux isn't caused by pregnancy, you'll notice that the following things can bring on your symptoms:

  • Bending over
  • Lifting heavy objects
  • Lying down
  • Consuming fatty and fried foods
  • Carbonated drinks, alcohol and citrus fruits

 

Acid reflux can often worsen the symptoms at night - mainly because you lie down when you try to sleep.

When To Worry About Your Symptoms

Acid reflux will always cause discomfort, and it's essential to get treatment for the condition so that you can enjoy daily life. However, in severe GERD cases, you could develop complex symptoms that require medical attention.

Weight loss, inability to swallow food or drinks, tarry stools, or bloody stools and vomit with blood should warrant a visit to your GP. You might also notice less severe symptoms, including:

  • Developing a cough or wheezing
  • Hiccups that occur frequently and last for a long time
  • Feelings of nausea
  • Husky or hoarse voice when waking up

 

Dysphagia

Dysphagia is a relatively rare symptom of acid reflux, and it results in difficulty swallowing foods and liquids. The common symptoms include choking and coughing when eating, gurgling when eating food, difficulty controlling saliva production and food coming back up through the mouth and nose.

In the most severe cases, a person might need to blend their food to make it easier to swallow, have speech therapy to improve the oesophagus functionality, and dysphagia can even lead to tube feeding.

While the condition is quite rare with GERD, if you fail to get treatment and let the acid build up, it can lead to surgery and a sufferer having to live with the symptoms.

Diagnosis

When most people visit a doctor to discuss their acid reflux symptoms, they'll receive a prescription to manage them. However, if the symptoms persist or you have severe side effects, your doctor will probably send you for more tests.

Endoscopy

Endoscopies are the most common outpatient procedure, and they're excellent for diagnosing GERD. You'll be able to choose between a sedative or numbing throat spray, and a long thin tube is inserted into your throat.

The procedure will take around 15 minutes, and its non-invasive nature means people don't have to stay in the hospital. While it can be uncomfortable and you might have a sore throat afterwards, it's a minimally invasive surgery that causes minor disruptions to daily life.

Barium Meal

The barium swallow test involves drinking a liquid that will show up on an x-ray. This is beneficial because it enables medical professionals to see if there are any issues with your small bowel, stomach and oesophagus.

Cytosponge

Cytosponge tests are relatively new, but they're an excellent tool for testing for Battetts's Oesophagus. All you need to do is swallow a capsule containing a sponge inside it.

Once the sponge expands, the nurse pulls on the threat attached to the sponge, which collects cells from your oesophagus. The cells are then tested for abnormalities.

While all of these tests are performed when the symptoms are severe, it's still essential to go for your test because the symptoms of acid reflux are similar to various cancers and other conditions.

Acid Reflux Treatment

Whether you have mild symptoms or extreme pain and difficulty swallowing, it's essential to treat your acid reflux before it worsens and becomes severe.

There are many treatments available for acid reflux, and in some cases, you can reduce the symptoms without medication.

Lifestyle Changes

The digestive system is sensitive, and it's easy to disrupt it when you neglect your diet. Most medical professionals will prescribe medication but still advise sufferers to adjust their diet and overall lifestyle.

Quit Smoking

Quitting smoking is the best thing a smoker can do - and while a few decades ago smoking was a normal part of life for many people, the risks of cancer, lung diseases and throat problems mean most ex-smokers improve their health once they ditch the tobacco.

The NHS has an excellent stop smoking programme, and UK residents can kick the habit for good. Once you do this, you should notice your symptoms gradually subside.

Reduce Your Alcohol Intake

Alcohol can be particularly harsh on your stomach lining, and if you notice an uncomfortable burning feeling after drinking, you should reduce your alcohol intake.

If you enjoy having the odd drink, try to avoid carbonated alcohols such as lager, champagne and alcopops. Vodka has a low acidity rating, and gin and whisky in small amounts will be OK.

However, if you want to protect your stomach, ease heartburn and improve your digestive health, you should cut your alcohol intake dramatically.

Lose Weight

We all know that the traditional western diet isn't exactly beneficial for long-term health, and as a nation, we have so many options for convenient meals. There are takeaways, fast food restaurants and snacks such as crisps and chocolates - which aren't healthy!

A 2021 study by Nutrition shows that 62% of British people have altered their eating habits, favouring a healthier diet in recent years. The fact is that loading up on sugary and fatty foods will cause - and worsen - GERD.

If you adopt a healthier diet and lose weight, you'll be able to control the condition and remove the symptoms. Try to increase your vegetable intake and eat whole fruits, healthy fats, and a lot of protein.

Healthy stomach contents will result in fewer symptoms and reduce acid regurgitation.

Medications

There are so many medications available for acid reflux, partly because it's one of the most common conditions in the UK. When choosing the proper medical treatment for your needs, it's crucial to think about your symptoms.

Over The Counter Medications

OTC medications are often the first port of call for most people with heartburn and reflux symptoms. They usually come in the form of chewable tablets or liquid and are available at chemists and most supermarkets.

You can take these medications after eating to reduce the burning pain, and they're highly beneficial for improving your sleep.

While these medications can help alleviate your symptoms, they're best for minor heartburn.

You'll often find two categories of over the counter medications: antacids and alginates. Both have protective benefits, and when combined, the antacids will reduce heartburn and acid reflux, while the alginates give your stomach lining a protective layer.

Acid Suppressants

Most people with acid reflux will visit a doctor to discuss their symptoms, and acid suppressants are usually the first port of call. They're more effective than over the counter antacids and come in two forms.

H2 Blockers (Histamine H2 Receptor Antagonists)

H2 blockers reduce the amount of stomach acid you produce when digesting food. Excess acid can impact the barrier your stomach creates to protect itself, so H2 blockers can neutralise your stomach lining and prevent excess acid from travelling up to your throat.

Common H2 Blockers include:

  • Ranitidine
  • Famotidine
  • Nizatidine
  • Cimetidine

 

While H2 blockers can be beneficial for reducing your symptoms, they're not the most effective medication, and you shouldn't take them if you're pregnant or have any kidney problems.

Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)

Proton pump inhibitors are undoubtedly the most popular acid reflux medication, and most doctors will choose to prescribe them due to their ability to reduce chronic inflammation and heartburn pain.

If you're looking for a safe medication with minimal side effects, the proton pump inhibitor will likely be the best choice.

Most PPIs are classed as a prescription drug, but you can get some over the counter depending on the strength.

The most common PPI's are:

  • Omaprazole
  • Esomeprazole
  • lansoprazole
  • Pantoprazole
  • Rabeprazole

 

When you take these medications, it's recommended that you use them for eight weeks initially, then see how your stomach handles certain foods. If the uncomfortable burning sensation returns, you'll probably return to prescription medications.

Which Is Best For Heartburn & Stomach Acid?

When choosing between the H2 medication or PPIs, it's essential to think about your needs. For example, if you get heartburn occasionally, you might be best off with lifestyle modifications and can take H2 medications when needed.

However, if you struggle with frequent heartburn and acid reflux, using proton pump inhibitors will provide more long-term relief. They don't work as quickly as H2's, but taking them for a few weeks can fix the problem and enable your stomach lining to recover.

To conclude, PPIs are the stronger acid blockers and will repair your digestive tract over time. However, you should also remove the risk factor of an unhealthy diet, excessive alcohol and other symptoms of GERD.

Shop For Medications to Relieve and Treat Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Before choosing your medication, you should think about what's causing your excess acid production and how frequently it happens. If you have persistent heartburn and chest pain, it's best to see a doctor because you might have a hiatal hernia or a more severe illness.

At Pharmacy Online, we have a range of effective medications for acid reflux, and our experienced pharmacists are available to offer support and advice on which is best for you.

Please feel free to contact us if you're unsure about your options, and we'll get back to you ASAP.

Causes

Acid reflux can be triggered by many things, such as:

  • Stress and anxiety
  • Alcohol
  • Spicy foods
  • Smoking
  • Certain medications such as ibuprofen

Treatments

Acid reflux can usually be managed by eating smaller meals, not smoking, and avoiding large amounts of alcohol.

However, if you find that self-management and over the counter treatments aren’t working for you, you should speak to a member of our team for long term management of your symptoms.

Symptoms

The most typical symptom of acid reflux is a burning feeling in the chest after eating or when lying down. Some people also experience the following:

  • Bad breath
  • Unpleasant taste in the mouth
  • Cough or hiccups
  • Bloating and nausea

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