COVID and heartburn: what should you know?

Heartburn is a burning feeling behind the breastbone caused when stomach contents move upward into the oesophagus. Illness, changes in eating, lying down more often, coughing, stress, or some medicines can make reflux more noticeable. Acid Reflux, Gastritis, a Hiatus Hernia, and Peptic Ulcer are other possible explanations.

COVID-19 and heartburn can happen at the same time without one proving the other. Burning after meals or when lying down points toward reflux, but pressure, breathlessness, sweating, faintness, or pain spreading to the arm, jaw, or back needs urgent assessment.

Choose smaller meals, stay upright after eating, and identify foods or drinks that reliably trigger symptoms. Avoid eating close to bedtime, loosen tight clothing around the abdomen, and raise the upper body for sleep if advised. Do not smoke, and limit alcohol if it worsens symptoms.

A pharmacist can advise whether an antacid or Acid Reflux Medication is suitable, taking account of pregnancy, kidney disease, other medicines, and how often symptoms occur. Do not keep treating recurring heartburn without finding out why it is happening.

Call emergency services for chest pressure or pain with difficulty breathing, cold sweating, faintness, severe weakness, or pain moving to the arm, jaw, or back. Do this even if the sensation resembles familiar heartburn.

Arrange medical review if heartburn is frequent, wakes you, causes difficulty swallowing, persistent vomiting, black stools, unexplained weight loss, or does not improve with suitable self-care. A clinician can distinguish reflux from stomach, oesophageal, heart, or lung problems.

Ask whether your symptoms fit reflux or another condition, whether a medicine could be aggravating them, how long self-treatment is reasonable, and which chest warning signs require emergency help.