Does acid reflux cause heartburn?

The oesophagus carries food from the mouth to the stomach. If the valve between them allows stomach contents to travel upwards, the sensitive lining can become irritated. This may feel like burning in the chest or upper abdomen and can bring a sour taste or fluid into the throat. Symptoms may be worse after a large meal, when bending, or when lying down. Chest discomfort has other possible causes, so the feeling should not automatically be attributed to reflux.

Try smaller meals, eat at a relaxed pace, and avoid lying down soon after eating. Identify personal triggers rather than removing many foods at once. Raising the head end of the bed may help symptoms that disturb sleep. A pharmacist can discuss short-term relief, while a clinician can review frequent symptoms or the need for longer treatment. Take prescribed medicines exactly as directed.

Arrange a review if heartburn keeps returning, affects sleep, or does not improve with sensible measures. Seek emergency help for chest pressure or burning with breathlessness, sweating, faintness, nausea, or pain spreading to the arm, back, neck, or jaw. Urgent assessment is also needed for vomiting blood, black stools, or new difficulty swallowing.

Ask whether your symptoms match reflux and whether your medicines could be contributing. Share when the burning starts, what relieves it, whether it wakes you, and whether you have regurgitation or swallowing changes. Ask how long self-care should be tried before review.