Heartburn: triggers, symptoms and treatments

What is heartburn?

Heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest ^1-3 that usually occurs after you’ve eaten certain types of food,⁴ along with other reasons. It’s a common problem, and the most common cause is acid reflux – when some of your stomach contents are forced back into the oesophagus (the tube that carries food down from your mouth).^2,4

68% OF PEOPLE SUFFER BOTH HEARTBURN AND INDIGESTION.*

What's causing your heartburn?

There are often no obvious causes, but heartburn can be brought on by:

• Eating certain foods, including:
  • Fatty or spicy food such as curry ^5,7
  • Acidic foods such as citrus fruits ^5,7
  • Tomatoes and onions ⁵
  • Chocolate ^6,7
  • And even peppermint ^6,7
• Consuming certain drinks, including:
  • Caffeinated drinks, coffee, tea or alcohol ^5,7
  • Carbonated beverages (soft drinks) ⁵
• Overeating ⁵
• Lying down too soon after eating ⁵
• Being overweight ⁷
• Smoking ^5,7
• Stress and anxiety ^5,8
• Pregnancy ⁵
• And even wearing tight clothing ⁵

HEARTBURN IS MOST COMMON IN THE AFTERNOON OR AFTER DINNER.*

What are the symptoms of heartburn?

Think you might have heartburn? What should you look out for?

Common heartburn symptoms are:

• Uncomfortable burning sensation in the chest where the discomfort tends to start from the lowest part of your chest, and eventually rises upwards. ^1-3
• Throat pain or an unpleasant sensation in your throat along with an unpalatable, acidic taste in your mouth. ^1,9,10
• Sometimes, a difficulty in swallowing – often accompanied by pain – or throat irritation leading to frequent throat clearing, coughing and choking. ¹⁰

Still have questions? If so, or if you notice yours are getting worse, please speak to your GP or a pharmacist.

How can I treat heartburn?

Looking for effective ways to help prevent and treat this common condition?

There are several steps your doctor might recommend to help ease your symptoms:

1. Be drink aware - cut down on your tea, coffee, sugary drinks and alcohol. ^5,7,11
2. Avoid food before bedtime: stop eating 3-4 hours before you try to get to sleep ^5,11
3. Cut down on certain foods: reduce rich, spicy or fatty foods in your diet ^5,7,11
4. Try smaller and more frequent meals rather than the usual three larger meals per day ⁵
5. Weight control: lose excess weight and try to do more exercise. ^5,7,11
6. Try changing sleeping position: prop your head and shoulders up in bed to help keep stomach acid down while you sleep. ^5,7,11
7. Stop smoking: aside from easing heartburn, this has many other health benefits. ^5,7,11
8. Drink more water: increase your water intake throughout the day.

Alongside lifestyle changes, your pharmacist may recommend taking a medication such as an antacid and/or an alginate.

WHEN SUFFERING FROM THE SYMPTOMS OF HEARTBURN, 60% OF PEOPLE JUST WANT TO FEEL NORMAL AGAIN.*

How can Gaviscon help?

Gaviscon Double Action is a combination alginate and antacid, designed to relieve heartburn.

Gaviscon gets to work instantly, soothing in just 3 minutes ¹² and lasting for up to 4 hours – two times longer than traditional antacids. ^3,4

How Gaviscon works:

1. As you swallow Gaviscon liquid, it soothes the throat and oesophagus. ¹²
2. When it gets to your stomach, it only takes a few seconds for the sodium alginate in Gaviscon to react with the acid in your stomach to create a protective barrier or raft that floats on top of stomach contents. This raft keeps stomach acid from rising up and causing heartburn. ^3,13
3. Gaviscon also contains the antacids sodium bicarbonate and calcium carbonate. These antacids effectively neutralise stomach acid, which further relieves heartburn. ¹³

When should you take Gaviscon?

• Take Gaviscon when you experience heartburn symptoms, or when they start to occur, such as after meals or just before bedtime. ¹³

_{Please note: All information presented is not meant to diagnose or prescribe. Always read the label before taking any medication. If symptoms are severe or prolonged, you should consult a doctor or pharmacist.}

_{*Based on survey of 13,831 Heartburn and Indigestion Sufferers from 5 Countries}

REFERENCES:

1. Kahrilas PJ et al. Regurgitation is less responsive to acid suppression than heartburn in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2012a; 10: 612–9.
2. Vakil N et al. The Montreal Definition and Classification of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Global Evidence-Based Consensus. Am J Gastroenterol, 2006; 101:1900–1920.
3. Meteerattanapipat P & Phupong V. Efficacy of alginate-based reflux suppressant and magnesium-aluminium antacid gel for treatment of heartburn in pregnancy: a randomized double-blind controlled trial. Scientific Reports, 2017; 7 (44830): 1–6.
4. Mandel KG et al. Review article: alginate-raft formulations in the treatment of heartburn and acid reflux. Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 2000; 14: 669–690.
5. Pallentino J. Proton Pump Inhibitor Clinical Trials: Focus on Lansoprazole in the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Frequent Heartburn. The Internet Journal of Advanced Nursing Practice, 2009; 11 (1): 1–9.
6. Kahrilas PJ. GERD pathogenesis, pathophysiology, and clinical manifestations. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, 2003; 70(5): 5–19.
7. Kahrilas PJ et al. American Gastroenterological Association Medical Position Statement on the Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Gastroenterology, 2008; 135:1383–1391.
8. Farré R et al. Critical role of stress in increased oesophageal mucosa permeability and dilated intercellular spaces. Gut, 2007; 56: 1191-1197.
9. Clarrett D & Hachem C. Science of Medicine Feature Series: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) 2018. Missouri Medicine,2018; 115 (3): 214 –218.
10. Vaezi M. Sore Throat and a Red Hypopharynx: Is It Reflux? Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2007; 5: 1379–1382.
11. NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) Guideline: Indigestion, heartburn and reflux in adults – Information for the public, 2014.
12. Strugala V et al. A randomized, controlled, cross over trial to investigate times to onset of the perception of soothing and cooling by over-the-counter heartburn treatments. The Journal of International Medical Research, 2010; 38: 449-457.
13. S0 Gaviscon Double Action Liquid (Suspension) Package Insert, 3 May 2016.

Article published 1 January 2021