NOT much beats the thrill of indulging in a hearty meal.
But for some of us, this happy bubble is quickly burst when we have a sudden attack of painful heartburn.
Acid reflux happens when stomach acid travels up to your throat
Heartburn is extremely common, affecting up to one in every four British adults, according to charity Guts UK.
It’s typically a symptom of a condition know as acid reflux – which happens when stomach acid travels up to your throat.
It can cause a burning feeling in your chest which we often refer to as heartburn.
There’s often no obvious reason why people get acid reflux, but according to pharmacist there are some effective over-the-counter medicines you can use to reduce the symptoms.
Contrary to popular belief, acid reflux is rarely caused by too much acid in the stomach, Sadik Al-Hassan, a medicines expert based in Bath explained.
Instead, certain foods can trigger acid reflux in some people.
Coffee, tomatoes, chocolate and fatty or spicy foods can all cause heartburn, according to the NHS.
“Try modifying your diet to eat smaller portions and remove certain foods which you feel make your heartburn worse,” the pharmacist said.
“Smoking and drinking can also worse symptoms of heartburn,” he added.
The best treatments
But once the heartburn has begun, it’s good to know ways to treat it.
“You can reduce the symptoms quickly by taking an antacid, which works by cancelling out the acid in your stomach,” Sadik said.
One of the most popular treatments, and Sadik’s top tip, is taking esomeprazole capsules, often known as Nexium.
“These which works within a few hours and lasts up to 24 hours,” he said.
Another common treatment which works “immediately” are Rennie Spearmint tablets, the expert said
“Gaviscon advance liquid also works to relief symptoms and contains special ingredients that helps reduce reflux,” he added.
The 3 best medicines for acid reflux
Pharmacist Sadik Al-Hassan shares his favourite acid reflux remedies:
Esomeprazole capsules
Rennie Spearmint tablets
Gaviscon advance liquid
Something more serious
Acid reflux is usually harmless and will go away within a day.
But sometimes it can be an indication of something more serious that needs to be looked at.
“If you have heartburn symptoms which don’t respond to treatment, lasts more than three weeks or comes with other symptoms you should visit your GP who will either prescribe stronger treatment and rule out any other conditions,” Sadik explained.
In light of this, the NHS have warned of these eight signs that mean you should contact your doctor:
Your heartburn won’t go away.Your heartburn symptoms become more severe or frequent.It’s hard or hurts to swallow.Your heartburn causes you to vomit.You have had unexpected weight loss.You take over-the-counter antacids for more than two weeks and still have heartburn symptoms.You have heartburn symptoms even after taking prescription medicines.You have serious hoarseness or wheezing
Recent research has linked heartburn to an increased risk of cancer.
People with heartburn are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with cancer of the oesophagus or the voice box in a lifetime, a study of half a million adults found.
Heart attacks can also often be mistaken for heartburn.
The general rule is if you aren’t sure, seek help.
But the most common symptoms of heart trouble include tightness, pain, a rapid heartbeat, clammy skin, indigestion and nausea.
Stomach acid can get into your lungs, causing a range of potential respiratory issues.
It can be simple harmless things like coughing, congestion and hoarseness.
But can also lead to more serious conditions like asthma, laryngitis, pneumonia or wheezing.
Peptic ulcer disease can often mistake it for heartburn.
The symptoms are similar, but also a symptom of the disease is heartburn.
It’s not too serious generally, with a doctor prescribing medications to relieve the symptoms and help the ulcer heal.