Fast gastrointestinal relief with acid reflux treatments

Acid reflux is a common gastrointestinal condition that causes stomach acid to travel up the throat, causing a burning sensation. This happens when the band of muscles at the bottom of the oesophagus is too relaxed, allowing stomach acid to travel back up your food pipe. This is why it is usually experienced after eating, especially large or fatty meals.

Acid reflux can affect anyone, but is more commonly seen in people who are:

• overweight or obese
• pregnant
• smokers
• over 40 years old

If you regularly experience acid reflux, you may have a condition known as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD): a chronic and severe form of acid reflux that can cause more painful symptoms and long-term damage. Whether you suffer from GORD or just occasional acid reflux, prescription treatments like antacids or proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can ease symptoms fast and help you manage your condition more effectively.

Is acid reflux the same as heartburn?

Acid reflux and heartburn are not exactly the same, but they are related. Think of heartburn as the prominent symptom and acid reflux as the underlying cause. While occasional heartburn is normal, frequent acid reflux may be a sign of a chronic condition that needs treatment.

Is indigestion the same as acid reflux?

Indigestion and acid reflux aren’t exactly the same, but they can often overlap, causing some confusion with the definitions. Indigestion is a broad term for discomfort in the upper stomach, with symptoms like bloating, nausea, or feeling uncomfortably full after eating. Acid reflux, on the other hand, is more specific. Acid reflux refers to stomach acid traveling back up the oesophagus, often causing heartburn. You can have indigestion without acid reflux, and vice versa, although many people experience both at the same time.

Acid reflux happens when the band of muscles at the bottom of the oesophagus—the lower oesophageal sphincter—doesn’t tighten properly after opening up to allow food and drink into the stomach. This can be caused by a number of different things:

• Coffee, alcohol, and fizzy drinks: These drinks can relax muscles in the oesophagus and increase the production of stomach acid.
• Fatty or spicy foods: These foods can delay stomach emptying, meaning acid stays in your stomach for longer and has more of a chance to travel up the oesophagus.
• Obesity: Excess weight, especially around the abdomen, can put pressure on the stomach, which can push acid up into the oesophagus.
• Smoking: Like alcohol, nicotine relaxes the muscles in the oesophagus, making reflux more likely. It also reduces saliva production and increases stomach acid production.
• Pregnancy: Pregnancy puts pressure on the stomach, potentially pushing acid up the oesophagus. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can also affect acid reflux.
• Stress: While it doesn’t directly cause acid reflux, stress can increase stomach acid production in some people and can make you more likely to smoke, drink, or overeat.
• Certain medications: Anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen can irritate the stomach lining and increase the production of stomach acid.

Other acid reflux causes include hiatal hernia, a condition where part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm, delayed stomach emptying, and connective tissue disorders. If you believe you have any of these conditions, speak with a doctor for accurate treatment.

The defining symptom of acid reflux is heartburn. Heartburn is a burning sensation felt in your chest when stomach acid travels up your oesophagus.

Other acid reflux symptoms include:

• a sour taste in your mouth
• a persistent cough
• a hoarse voice
• bad breath
• bloating
• hiccups
• difficulty or pain swallowing

Symptoms are often worse after eating, especially large or fatty meals, and when lying down.

Silent reflux

Silent reflux (LPR) is similar to acid reflux in that stomach acid travels up your food pipe. However, with silent reflux, this stomach acid reaches all the way to the throat. Silent reflux symptoms include hoarse voice, excessive throat clearing, dry cough, excess mucous, acidic taste in the mouth, and heartburn.

Heartburn as a result of acid reflux can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours, depending on the severity of your condition. How long it lasts also depends on what you have been eating, how much you weigh, and what you do after eating. Laying down after eating a heavy, fatty meal, for example, can cause severe heartburn that lasts a while, whereas heartburn as a result of a small meal where you stay standing is more likely to go away quicker. The severity of your symptoms will factor into which dosage of acid reflux treatment you are prescribed.

Acid reflux is usually diagnosed after a thorough chat with your doctor about your symptoms and other circumstances surrounding your condition. During this discussion, your doctor will be able to gain an in-depth understanding of the severity of your symptoms, why you may be experiencing them, and what treatment plan will work best for you.

If your acid reflux symptoms are mild, antacids may be enough, but if they are more severe or you’ve been experiencing them for a long time, they may prescribe you a proton pump inhibitor such as Omeprazole or Lansoprazole. Further tests are usually only needed if symptoms are severe or persistent.

At 121doc, we offer prescription acid reflux medicines known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). These medicines reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces, making reflux less likely and significantly reducing symptoms like heartburn.

Widely used proton pump inhibitors include Omeprazole, Lansoprazole, and Rabeprazole among others.

Long-term acid reflux drug use

While proton pump inhibitors and other acid reflux medications are highly effective, long-term use requires careful consideration and expert medical guidance. A healthcare professional can monitor acid reflux symptoms, adjust your dosage if necessary, and periodically review whether you still require treatment. Research shows that extended use can increase the risk of certain side effects, such as low magnesium levels, vitamin deficiencies, bone density problems, and a heightened risk of gut infections.

Aside from prescription medicines, there are some lifestyle changes you can make to better manage symptoms of acid reflux. To get rid of acid reflux naturally, consider the following:

• Mindful eating: Instead of large meals that can contribute to acid reflux, eat smaller, more frequent meals, and avoid lying down after eating.
• Avoid trigger foods: Foods to avoid with acid reflux include fatty or fried foods, spicy foods, citrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, and fizzy drinks. Keep a food diary to determine which foods affect you the most and avoid them to reduce symptoms.
• Maintain a healthy weight: Extra weight, especially around the abdomen, can worsen acid reflux. Even small weight loss can dramatically affect your symptoms of acid reflux for the better.
• Quit smoking: If you smoke, consider quitting to strengthen the muscles in your oesophagus. That includes vapes and e-cigarettes.
• Manage stress: If stress is a trigger for your acid reflux, consider stress-relieving activities like light exercise, meditation, or a warm, relaxing bath.

Should you drink apple cider vinegar for acid reflux?

One of the most popular home remedies for acid reflux is apple cider vinegar, but scientific backing for this is limited. Those who claim apple cider vinegar helps them with heartburn and acid reflux usually believe it does so because of its positive impact on gut health and stomach acid levels.

However, apple cider vinegar, especially if it’s undiluted, can actually make reflux symptoms worse by irritating the food pipe further. If you still want to try this home remedy, make sure you only drink one teaspoon, and dilute it with a glass of water.

Most cases of acid reflux can be managed with lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medicine. However, you should seek medical help and prescription treatments if your symptoms are severe, get in the way of daily life, and if lifestyle changes don’t work well enough.

You can order prescription acid reflux treatments online from 121doc by completing a short online questionnaire. This allows a qualified doctor to assess whether treatment is suitable for you, without the need for a face-to-face appointment.

Simply choose a treatment and request a prescription, and someone from our licensed medical team will assess your case. If approved, your treatment will be sent directly to your door in discreet packaging—no face-to-face appointment necessary.