Food pipe & stomach
Acidity & reflux (GERD)
Stomach acid flows back up into the food pipe. Occasional heartburn is common. Frequent reflux can inflame the food pipe and, over years, damage its lining.
Common symptoms
- Burning behind the chest after meals
- Sour taste or food coming back up
- Worse when lying down or bending
- Long-standing cough or hoarse voice
Causes and risk factors
- A weak valve between the food pipe and stomach
- Large or late meals, and lying down soon after eating
- Extra weight, especially around the belly
- Smoking, alcohol, and some medicines
- Pregnancy and hiatus hernia
How it is diagnosed
Most people need no tests at first. An upper GI endoscopy is done if symptoms continue despite treatment, or if there are warning signs such as trouble swallowing, weight loss, vomiting blood or anaemia.
Treatment
Smaller meals, dinner at least 3 hours before bed, raising the head end of the bed, losing extra weight, and cutting down on tobacco and alcohol. Medicines work well when needed.
Procedures that may help
Diet guide: Acidity & reflux
Eat more
- Smaller meals, more often
- Dinner at least 3 hours before bed
- Oats, cooked vegetables, non-citrus fruits like banana and papaya
- Water between meals
- A short walk after eating
Cut down
- Large, late dinners
- Fried and very fatty food
- Too much tea, coffee and fizzy drinks
- Chocolate and mint, which are common triggers
- Alcohol and tobacco
Good to know
- Triggers differ from person to person; a two-week food diary shows yours
- Raise the head end of the bed by 6 to 8 inches for night symptoms
- Trouble swallowing or weight loss needs a specialist visit
When to see a gastroenterologist
Symptoms twice a week or more, no relief after 2 to 4 weeks, or any warning sign such as trouble swallowing or weight loss.
Common questions
Can acidity medicines be taken for a long time?
They are safe for most people when needed, but long-term use should be reviewed by a doctor, who will usually aim for the lowest dose that controls symptoms.
Can acidity feel like heart pain?
Yes, and the two can be hard to tell apart. Chest pain with sweating, breathlessness, or pain spreading to the arm or jaw must be checked for heart problems first, as an emergency.