Acid Reflux (Heartburn)
Acid reflux is stomach acid travelling toward the throat, often causing heartburn or a sour taste. Recurrent reflux and swallowing problems should be assessed.
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Quick Reference Facts
In simple words
Acid reflux happens when stomach acid travels up into the food pipe, causing heartburn, a sour taste, or food and fluid coming back up. Repeated troublesome reflux may be called GORD or GERD.
Symptoms often worsen after eating, when bending, or lying down. Persistent symptoms need review because other conditions can look similar and treatment may be needed.
Common Causes
- Reflux or a hiatus hernia
- Pregnancy, increased abdominal pressure, or being overweight
- Personal food and drink triggers, smoking, or alcohol
- Some medicines or a delayed stomach emptying pattern
Clinical Red Flags
Seek urgent medical attention at an emergency department or primary care clinic if you present with any of the following symptoms:
- Call emergency services for new or severe chest pressure or pain with breathlessness, sweating, faintness, or pain spreading to the arm, jaw, shoulder, or back.
- Arrange prompt advice for food sticking, painful swallowing, frequent vomiting, vomiting blood, black stools, or unexplained weight loss.
- Book a review if heartburn happens most days or pharmacy treatment and lifestyle changes are not helping.
Lifestyle & Diet Support
Avoid lying down for two to three hours after eating, identify personal triggers rather than using a universal ban list, stop smoking, and consider weight support if relevant. A pharmacist can advise on antacids or alginates; do not use them regularly for long periods without advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Differential Diagnosis Matrix
Chest pain must not be assumed to be reflux. A clinician may consider heart conditions, swallowing disorders, ulcers, medication effects, and other digestive causes.
Reference Citations & Evidence Sources
Clinical Guidelines & Consensus Statements
Clinical Reviews & Textbooks
- CIT-0023National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health. "Homeopathy: What You Need To Know." National Institutes of Health (2021).
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