Taking an antacid for heartburn and reflux is extremely common, and year by year sales of antacids rise by billions. This is mainly down to negative change in lifestyle and diet.

Reflux is correctly known as gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) and it happens when your stomach contents come back up into your oesophagus. Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is a more severe and long-lasting condition in which GOR causes repeated symptoms or leads to complications over time. Sometimes it is painful, or you may burp of taste acid.

There are many triggers for this but it can also be hereditary. If the valve at the bottom of the oesophagus opens it will let the contents of the stomach upwards and the acidity of this is just a little less than battery acid. Over time it will therefore burn and cause serious problems.

Basic things you can try to stop reflux and associated symptoms:

• Consume only a few weak caffeinated drinks a day, caffeine makes the valve at the bottom of the oesophagus relax and let food squirt upwards.

• Eating moderately sized portions at mealtimes.

• Drinking no more than a couple of units alcohol (ones that don’t trigger you eg wine/cider).

• Making a food and symptom diary to understand which foods lead to reflux -it could be onions, wine, fried food, skins of cucumbers, cream or citrus for example!

• Probiotics that contain strains from lactobacilli and bifidobacteria may be helpful with acid reflux and associated issues.

• If you smoke, stop!

• Aim for a healthy BMI (weight for height).

• Don’t wear tight clothing with restricts the passage of food downwards.

• Wait 3-4 hours after the last meal before laying down.

• Sleep in a 45 degree angle either by increasing the slope of your bed or by elevating your mattress and pillows.

• Once you’ve done all that…..relax! Stress is a major cause of sudden and acute reflux.

For most people these diet and lifestyle changes will do the trick, but if they don’t and you’re taking over the counter antacids everyday still, you’ll need to see your GP. Most people will go onto have an upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy to check for ulcers, polyps and inflammation using a tiny camera on the end of a bendy wire.

Long term treatment with prescribed medications such as proton pump inhibitors (PPI’s) can cause other problems, e.g. osteoporosis, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), dementia and vitamin deficiencies and so solving the cause is far better for you!