Does obesity cause heartburn?

Extra pressure around the abdomen can encourage stomach contents to move back through the lower oesophageal valve. This reflux can create a burning feeling behind the breastbone, a sour taste, regurgitation, cough, or discomfort after meals. Large meals, lying down soon after eating, alcohol, smoking, some medicines, and a hiatus hernia can also contribute.

Heartburn has several possible explanations, so a symptom alone cannot diagnose obesity or reflux disease. Frequent symptoms may irritate the oesophagus and deserve assessment, particularly when they affect sleep, eating, or swallowing.

Notice whether symptoms follow large meals, particular foods, or lying down. Try smaller meals, avoid eating close to bedtime, and raise the head of the bed if night symptoms occur. A clinician or pharmacist can advise whether an antacid or acid-reducing medicine is suitable. If weight management is relevant, use a gradual plan with professional support rather than severe restriction.

Arrange a medical review if heartburn is frequent, keeps returning, needs repeated self-treatment, or comes with trouble swallowing, food sticking, persistent vomiting, unexplained weight loss, or black stools. Seek urgent help for severe or squeezing chest pain, breathlessness, sweating, faintness, or pain spreading to the arm or jaw, because heart problems can resemble indigestion.

Could my symptoms be reflux or another condition? Do any of my medicines worsen heartburn? Which treatment is appropriate for the pattern I describe? Should I be assessed for swallowing problems or a hiatus hernia?