What should you know about excessive heartburn and belching?

Heartburn is a burning feeling behind the breastbone caused when stomach contents move into the oesophagus. Belching releases swallowed air and may increase after eating quickly, drinking fizzy drinks or chewing gum. Acid reflux, gastritis, a hiatus hernia and peptic ulcer can produce upper digestive symptoms, while excess weight can increase pressure around the stomach. Symptoms alone cannot identify one cause.

Try smaller meals, eat slowly, and remain upright after eating. Identify whether fatty meals, spicy foods, coffee, alcohol or fizzy drinks worsen symptoms, then limit personal triggers. Avoid tight clothing around the abdomen and raise the head of the bed if symptoms disturb sleep. A pharmacist or clinician can discuss suitable acid reflux medication, particularly if symptoms recur or you take other medicines.

Get urgent help for chest pressure, sweating, breathlessness, fainting, vomiting blood or black stools. Arrange medical review for trouble swallowing, painful swallowing, repeated vomiting, unexplained weight loss, persistent abdominal pain, or heartburn that keeps returning despite self-care. These symptoms need assessment rather than repeated self-treatment.

Could reflux, gastritis, a hiatus hernia or an ulcer explain my symptoms? Would a medicine trial or further testing be appropriate? Which foods and medicines might be aggravating the problem?