Ano ang acid reflux?

The oesophagus is the tube carrying food from the mouth to the stomach. Reflux happens when the muscular valve at its lower end does not keep stomach contents down effectively. Occasional episodes can follow a large meal, while repeated troublesome symptoms may be called gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

Typical features include burning behind the breastbone, sour or bitter fluid reaching the throat, burping, nausea, or discomfort high in the abdomen. Acid reflux can also present with cough, a hoarse voice, throat clearing, or disturbed sleep, particularly when symptoms occur after lying down.

A hiatus hernia, pregnancy, excess weight, smoking, some medicines, and particular foods or drinks can make reflux more likely or aggravate it. Symptoms alone cannot safely explain every episode of chest or abdominal discomfort.

Notice which meals trigger your symptoms and reduce those specific triggers instead of removing many foods at once. Smaller meals, avoiding lying down soon after eating, raising the head end of the bed for night symptoms, stopping smoking, and working toward a comfortable weight may help.

A pharmacist can explain short-term antacid or alginate options and check them against your other medicines. If symptoms recur frequently, wake you from sleep, or continue despite self-care, a clinician can review the diagnosis and discuss acid-suppressing treatment.

Get urgent help for new or severe chest pressure or tightness, especially with shortness of breath, sweating, faintness, or pain spreading to the arm, jaw, back, or shoulder. A heart problem can resemble indigestion and needs rapid assessment.

Book a prompt clinical review for difficulty or pain when swallowing, food sticking, vomiting blood, black stools, persistent vomiting, unexplained weight loss, anaemia, or steadily worsening symptoms. These signs need investigation rather than repeated self-treatment.

Describe the timing of symptoms, their relationship to meals and sleep, swallowing problems, and every medicine you use. Ask whether any medicine could worsen reflux, how long to try treatment, and which change would mean you need tests or an earlier review.