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Home , Burping, Heartburn, Indigestion

Gastrointestinal 0099

Heartburn and

Indigestion is an uncomfortable feeling in the upper . is a painful, burning feeling rising up from the or lower chest towards the throat. Medicines, and in some cases simple lifestyle changes, can relieve and prevent heartburn and indigestion.

Indigestion The Digestive System Indigestion is a general term for uncomfortable symptoms in the upper abdomen (belly). Indigestion is often related to eating or drinking. Indigestion includes: • pain or discomfort in the upper oesophagus abdomen (belly)

• heartburn stomach •

• and/or • a bloated or full stomach feeling.

Heartburn Heartburn is a painful burning feeling rising up from your stomach or lower chest towards your throat. It occurs when (stomach acid) refl uxes (fl ows

Self Care is a program of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. Self Care is committed to providing current and reliable health information. back up) into the oesophagus (food • a large meal pipe) and irritates the inner lining of the • eating quickly oesophagus. This refl ux happens when • physical activity soon after a large meal the valve that separates the oesophagus • stress and and the stomach does not close properly. • being overweight Symptoms are often made worse by lying • wearing tight clothing around your waist down, bending forward or straining. • , particularly late pregnancy Other symptoms of refl ux include: • smoking • food or fl uid coming into your mouth • some medical conditions (e.g. GORD, from your stomach stomach ulcer, gall stones) • an acid, sour or bitter taste in • certain medicines (e.g. , your mouth , diclofenac, , • a sudden increase in saliva in celecoxib, meloxicam, alendronate, your mouth risedronate, doxycycline, minocycline). Ask a pharmacist for information. • a lot of burping • nausea Self care • dry cough, especially at night Try to identify and avoid things that make • sore throat. your symptoms worse. Simple changes to Frequent heartburn and refl ux symptoms diet and lifestyle that can often prevent or can be signs of gastro-oesophageal refl ux reduce the symptoms of indigestion and disease (GORD). GORD involves repeated heartburn include: refl ux of stomach acid, which can cause • Eat less fatty and spicy food, and other infl ammation and damage to the lining of foods that give you symptoms. the oesophagus, called oesophagitis. • Eat smaller meals. Risk factors • Eat slowly and chew food well. • Drink most fl uids between meals Some things, called risk factors, can cause (not with meals). or worsen indigestion and heartburn. Sometimes no cause for a person’s • Drink less alcohol. symptoms can be found. • Have less caffeine (e.g. , tea, cola, energy drinks). Factors that can cause or worsen indigestion and heartburn include: • Don’t dry swallow medicines. Always swallow medicines with a glass of water. • some foods (e.g. spicy and fatty foods, • Don’t slump in a chair, bend over or lie chocolate, onions, tomatoes, citrus) down soon after eating. • alcohol • Don’t go to bed for two hours • caffeine (e.g. coffee, tea, cola, after eating. energy drinks)

To fi nd your nearest Self Care pharmacy go to the pharmacy fi nder at www.psa.org.au Medicines Important Medicines can relieve or prevent symptoms of Talk to a doctor or pharmacist if: indigestion and heartburn. Some are available • it is the fi rst time you have experienced from a pharmacist without a prescription. symptoms, especially if you are over Pharmacists can advise on the best medicine 50 years or under 18 years for you, and whether you should see a doctor. Some of these medicines may interfere with • you experience indigestion, heartburn or other medicines that you take. Always ask a other symptoms of refl ux on more than pharmacist or doctor for advice. one day a week Medicines for indigestion, heartburn and • heartburn or pain wakes you at night gastro-oesophageal refl ux disease include: • symptoms are getting worse or are severe and alginates – Antacids (e.g. Mylanta, Gastrogel, Rennie) neutralise stomach • symptoms are constant or keep acid. Alginates (e.g. Gaviscon, Mylanta returning, even with treatment Heartburn Relief) form a coating on top of • it is hard or painful to swallow stomach contents, which can reduce acid refl ux • your bowel motions are black and and protect the oesophagus from stomach tar-like, or have blood in them acid. Antacids and alginates are usually used for quick relief of occasional symptoms. • you vomit and your vomit looks like coffee grounds, or has blood in it H2 antagonists (e.g. , , nizatidine) – reduce gastric acid production in • you have lost weight and do not the stomach. know why Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) (e.g. • symptoms get worse with or after , omeprazole, pantoprazole, exercise. lansoprazole, rabeprazole) – reduce gastric acid Note: Heart attack can feel like bad production in the stomach. indigestion or heartburn. Warning signs of Prokinetic medicines (e.g. , heart attack include: metoclopramide) – help food pass through the stomach faster. • discomfort or pain in the centre of your chest Some complementary medicines may help to relieve indigestion. • discomfort in your arm(s), shoulder(s), neck, jaw or back • Don’t do vigorous exercise for two hours • nausea after eating. • a cold sweat • Wear loose clothing around your waist. • feeling dizzy or lightheaded • feeling short of breath • Raise the head of your bed or use a • feeling generally unwell or ‘not wedge pillow. quite right’. • Reach and keep to a healthy weight. If you have warning signs of heart attack • Don’t smoke. that are severe, get worse quickly or have lasted 10 minutes, phone 000 for an • Learn and use relaxation techniques to ambulance (you may need to phone 112 manage stress. on a mobile phone outside its network coverage area).

To fi nd your nearest Self Care pharmacy go to the pharmacy fi nder at www.psa.org.au For more information Related fact cards

Alcohol Gastroenterological Society of Pain Relievers Australia Relaxation Techniques Website: www.gesa.org.au Smoking Heartburn and heartburn Warning Signs of Heart Attack friendly recipes Weight and Health Website www.heartburn.com.au Healthdirect Australia Phone: 1800 022 222 Website: www.healthdirect.org.au Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) Your pharmacist can advise on CMI leafl ets. NPS Medicine Wise Medicines Information Line Phone: 1300 MEDICINE (1300 633 424) Website: www.nps.org.au The Poisons Information Centre In case of poisoning phone 13 11 26 from anywhere in Australia.

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The Pharmaceutical Society of Australia is committed to providing current and reliable health information. This card was current at the time of publication October 2012. V2.0 © Pharmaceutical Society of Australia Ltd, www.psa.org.au