Heartburn and Indigestion

Gastrointestinal 0099 2011

Indigestion is an uncomfortable feeling in the upper abdomen. Heartburn is a painful, burning feeling rising up from the stomach 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: oesophagus • Upper abdominal(belly) discomfort or pain • Burping stomach • Nausea, loss of appetite • A bloated or full stomach feeling. liver Indigestion is sometimes caused by a medical condition or by medicines. large intestine Sometimes no cause can be found.

small intestine

Self Care is a program of the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia. Self Care is committed to providing current and reliable health information. Heartburn • Alcohol Heartburn is a painful burning feeling • Caffeine rising up from the stomach or lower • A large meal chest towards the throat. It occurs • Eating quickly when stomach acid refluxes (flows back • Physical activity soon after a large meal up) into the oesophagus (food pipe) • Stress and anxiety and irritates the inner lining of the • Being overweight oesophagus. This reflux happens when the valve that separates the oesophagus • Wearing tight clothing around your and the stomach does not close waist properly. Symptoms are often made • Pregnancy, particularly late pregnancy worse by lying down, bending forward • Smoking or straining. • Some medical conditions (e.g., GORD, stomach ulcer, gall stones) Other symptoms of reflux include: • Certain medicines (e.g., aspirin, non- • Regurgitation of food or fluid into steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, your mouth alendronate, risedronate, doxycycline, • An acidic, sour or bitter taste in your minocycline). Ask a pharmacist for mouth information. • A sudden increase in saliva in your Self care mouth Try to identify and avoid things that • A lot of burping make your symptoms worse. Simple • Nausea changes to diet and lifestyle that can • Dry cough, especially at night often prevent or reduce the symptoms of indigestion and heartburn include: • Sore throat. Frequent heartburn and reflux • Eat less fatty and spicy food, symptoms can be signs of gastro- chocolate, peppermints and other oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). known problem foods GORD involves repeated reflux of • Eat smaller meals stomach acid, which can cause • Eat slowly and chew food well inflammation and damage to the lining • Drink less alcohol of the oesophagus, called oesophagitis. • Have less caffeine (e.g., coffee, tea, Risk factors cola, energy drinks) Factors that can cause or worsen • Don’t dry swallow medicines. Always indigestion and heartburn include: swallow medicines with a glass of water • Certain foods (e.g., rich, spicy and fatty food, chocolate, peppermint, • Don’t eat within 2-3 hours of going onions, tomatoes) to bed

To find your nearest Self Care pharmacy go to the pharmacy finder at www.psa.org.au • Do not slump in a chair, bend over or lie down soon after meals Medicines • Go for a short walk after your Medicines can relieve or prevent symptoms main meal of indigestion and heartburn. Some are • Wear loose clothing around your waist available from a pharmacist without a prescription. Pharmacists can advise on • Raise the head of your bed the best medicine for you and whether • Reach and keep to a healthy weight you should consult a doctor. Some of • Don’t smoke these medicines may interfere with other medicines that you take. Always ask a • Learn and use relaxation techniques to pharmacist or doctor for advice. manage stress. Medicines used for indigestion, heartburn and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease include: Important • Antacids and alginates – Antacids Consult a doctor or pharmacist if: (e.g., Mylanta, Gastrogel, Rennie) neutralise stomach acid. Alginates • It is the first time you have experienced (e.g., Gaviscon) form a coating on top symptoms, especially if you are over 50 of stomach contents, which reduces years or under 18 years. acid reflux. Antacids and alginates • You experience indigestion, heartburn are usually used for quick relief of or other symptoms of reflux more than occasional symptoms. once a week • H2 antagonists (e.g., ranitidine, • Heartburn wakes you at night famotidine, nizatidine) – They reduce • Symptoms are getting worse or are gastric acid production in the stomach severe • Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) • Symptoms are constant or keep (e.g., esomeprazole, omeprazole, returning, even with treatment pantoprazole, lansoprazole, rabeprazole) – They reduce gastric acid • It is difficult or painful to swallow production in the stomach. PPIs are • Your bowel motions are black and usually the best treatment for heartburn tar-like or have blood in them • Prokinetic medicines (e.g., • You vomit and your vomit looks like domperidone, metoclopramide) – They coffee grounds or has blood in it speed up the passage of food through • You have lost weight and do not know the stomach. why Note: PPIs and H2 antagonists are • Symptoms get worse with or after also used to protect the inner lining exercise of the stomach and oesophagus • You have shortness of breath, sweating during treatment with non-steroidal or pain radiating to your jaw, neck, arm anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g., aspirin, or back. ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac).

To find your nearest Self Care pharmacy go to the pharmacy finder 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 Weight and Health friendly recipes Website www.heartburn.com.au Healthdirect Australia Phone: 1800 022 222 Website: www.healthinsite.gov.au Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) Your pharmacist can advise on CMI leaflets. National Prescribing Service (NPS) Medicines Information 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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