Acid reflux is caused when the opposite happens, and the acid inside your stomach is able to travel back up towards your throat.
Acid reflux is a very common condition that many people experience. In fact, heartburn – the main symptom of acid reflux – is estimated to affect up to one in four adults in the UK!
But what exactly is acid reflux? And how is it caused? Read on to discover all this and more, including how treatments like Rennie® can help alleviate your symptoms.
WHAT IS ACID REFLUX?
A common condition, acid reflux can cause a burning sensation in your chest (heartburn), as well as an unpleasant sour taste in your mouth. It’s also closely associated with another digestive condition known as indigestion.
However, while you might hear people referring to acid reflux and indigestion interchangeably, there are a few differences between the two.
For example, indigestion is actually often caused by acid reflux, due to the acid from your stomach irritating either your stomach lining or throat. This can then lead to various symptoms of indigestion, including feeling bloated, feeling sick, burping or needing to pass wind.
Acid reflux is also commonly described as heartburn. But, again, the two are slightly different.
Acid reflux refers to the actual action of the stomach acid travelling back up the oesophagus (the muscular tube that connects your mouth to your stomach) towards the throat, whereas heartburn is the uncomfortable burning feeling that results from that action.
Speak to your pharmacist or doctor if you’re not sure which condition you’re experiencing.
Acid reflux is the reverse passage of gastric contents into the oesophagus (‘food pipe’) which can cause heartburn. The terms are often used interchangeably, but acid reflux is the actual action of part of the stomach contents traveling back up the oesophagus (sometimes into the throat and even into the mouth), while heartburn is the uncomfortable feeling as a result of that action.
If you have frequent acid reflux, you may have GORD - Gastro Oesophageal Reflux Disease. It might sound scary, but in most cases GORD is not a serious condition and is experienced by one in ten people every day. However persistent episodes can damage the lining of the oesophagus, so have a chat with your GP or pharmacist if you’re at all concerned.
WHAT ARE THE MAIN ACID REFLUX SYMPTOMS?
It’s important to understand the common symptoms of acid reflux so you know what to look for.
While some cases of acid reflux can be pain-free, others can cause some discomfort and symptoms. Some of the most common symptoms of acid reflux include:
- Heartburn (a painful, burning sensation in the middle of your chest)
- A sour or salty taste in the back of your throat or mouth (also known as regurgitation)
- Frequent bouts of coughing or hiccuping
- A hoarse voice
- Bad breath
- Bloating
- Feeling sick
Many people also find that their symptoms will feel worse after doing certain actions or activities, such as eating or bending over after eating.
WHAT CAUSES ACID REFLUX?
Acid reflux is often brought on by the action (or inaction) of a ring of muscle located at the entrance of your stomach called the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES).
When working as it should, this ring of muscle is supposed to open when you’re eating, allow food to pass through, and close shortly afterwards.
However, if it doesn’t close properly or opens too often, this allows the acid contained within your stomach to escape upwards into your oesophagus, causing the various symptoms listed above.
RISK FACTORS FOR ACID REFLUX
While there’s often no obvious reason why acid reflux happens, it can be brought on or made worse by certain things. These tend to include:
- Dietary triggers: Certain foods and drinks, such as coffee, tomatoes, alcohol, chocolate and fatty or spicy foods.
- Eating habits: Eating large meals, lying down after eating or snacking late at night.
- Lifestyle factors: Stress, anxiety, pregnancy, smoking and being overweight or obese.
- Medications: Certain types of medication, such as anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen.
- Medical conditions: Having a hiatus hernia (when part of your stomach moves into your chest), stomach ulcer or bacterial stomach infection.
If you experience acid reflux regularly, it may also be caused due to a gastrointestinal issue known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD/GORD) which, left untreated, could cause more potential issues, so it’s important to see your doctor if you are unsure.
Rennie® is not suitable as a GERD/GORD treatment.
ACID REFLUX AND PREGNANCY
Hormonal changes, as well as having a baby pressing against your stomach, can make acid reflux common during pregnancy.
However, it’s possible to ease your symptoms by making changes to your diet and lifestyle, and possibly taking medicines that can be used during pregnancy*.
MANAGING ACID REFLUX: TREATMENT AND RELIEF
If you’re currently experiencing acid reflux, there are plenty of effective ways to find relief. For example, making a few simple changes to your lifestyle and knowing which over-the-counter medicines to take can help ease your symptoms.
THINK ABOUT YOUR DIET
One of the best places to start is by thinking about your diet – and not just in terms of the food you eat, but the way you eat it as well.
High-fat meals, alcohol, chocolate and coffee may all increase your likelihood of experiencing acid reflux, so consuming a healthy, balanced diet may help decrease your likelihood of acid reflux.
You should also try to eat little and often throughout the day, rather than large meals at set times, and avoid eating on the ‘run’ or within three to four hours of bed.
PRIORITISE LIVING A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE
When dealing with acid reflux, living a healthy lifestyle can make a big difference. To lower your risk, here are some of the best choices you can make:
- Give up smoking
- Reduce your alcohol intake
- Take steps to reduce your weight
- Manage your stress levels
- Avoid eating within three or four hours of going to sleep
- Elevating the head of the bed when you sleep
- Maintain good posture
- Avoid wearing clothing that’s tight around your waist
OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICINES
As well as making changes to your lifestyle and your diet, there are a variety of over-the-counter medications you can use to relieve mild symptoms, including antacids and alginates.
Rennie® Peppermint tablets, for example, is an antacid that can provide fast, effective relief from heartburn and indigestion by acting on the acid in your stomach.
Through its calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate formula, Rennie® Peppermint tablets work by neutralising 99% of excess stomach acid and turning it into water and soluble mineral salts.
However, if over-the-counter medicines aren’t providing effective relief, talk to your doctor.
TIPS & ADVICE
A busy life can be hard on the stomach and anyone can be affected by heartburn, indigestion or trapped wind at some point. But if you often find yourself in discomfort, sometimes just a few simple changes to your lifestyle can really help to ease those uncomfortable symptoms.
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