Reflux is also known as heartburn or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Symptoms include a burning pain in your stomach, throat or chest and/or bitter tasting acid in your mouth. Other common symptoms include bloating, belching, nausea, hiccups dry cough or chronic sore throat.
Major causes include:
- Lying down after eating
- Being overweight
- Eating foods like chocolate, citrus, tomato, garlic, fatty foods, onions, alcohol and soft drinks.
- Pregnancy
- Medications including blood pressure meds, aspirin and ibuprofen.
Western Medical Treatment
- Antacids neutralise the acid in your stomach but they can cause diarrhoea or constipation. Antacids can provide temporary relief to reflux symptoms.
- Foaming agents that coat your stomach to reduce reflux.
- H2 Blockers or proton pump inhibitors act to reduce acid production.
- Prokinetics empty your stomach faster to prevent reflux.
- As a last resort surgery can be performed to create physical barriers to stomach acid ascending up the oesophagus.
