Does GP consultation treat acid reflux?

The GP may ask when burning or regurgitation occurs, whether meals or lying down trigger it, and whether you have difficulty swallowing, nausea, cough, or voice changes. Your medical history and medicines can affect the plan. Many cases can be managed from the history and examination, while persistent or unusual symptoms may need further assessment.

Treatment may include changes to meal timing, advice about trigger foods, and medicine that reduces stomach acid. The GP can review whether the treatment is helping and consider referral or testing if symptoms continue or the diagnosis is unclear.

Keep a brief record of meals, symptoms, and medicines before the appointment. Follow the agreed plan, avoid lying down soon after eating, and take prescribed medicine according to its instructions. Discuss frequent use of non-prescription remedies rather than relying on them indefinitely.

Get urgent help for chest pain with sweating, breathlessness, faintness, or pain spreading to the arm or jaw. Seek prompt medical review for vomiting blood, black stools, repeated vomiting, unexplained weight loss, or food sticking when you swallow.

Ask what may be triggering your symptoms, how long to try the treatment, which warning signs matter, and whether another condition or a specialist assessment should be considered.