What should you know about heartburn and chills?

Heartburn can follow stomach contents moving into the oesophagus, causing burning or a sour taste. Chills may occur with a fever, infection, dehydration, or the body's response to feeling unwell. They do not establish that reflux is the cause of the whole illness. Gastritis, a peptic ulcer, or another abdominal problem may cause discomfort and nausea, while a hiatus hernia can contribute to reflux without explaining chills. Note your temperature if possible and record when each symptom began.

Rest, drink fluids if you can keep them down, and choose light meals while monitoring the pattern. Avoid alcohol and foods that clearly worsen the burning. Do not start leftover antibiotics or repeatedly self-treat without advice. Contact a clinician if chills continue, a fever develops, or the symptoms do not settle, because the cause may need an examination rather than reflux treatment alone.

Seek urgent help for confusion, fainting, severe weakness, difficulty breathing, chest pressure, severe or worsening abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, blood in vomit, or black stools. Prompt assessment is also needed for a high or persistent fever, inability to keep fluids down, or chills with a very unwell appearance.

Ask whether your temperature, abdominal symptoms, recent food or travel exposure, and medicines point to an infection or digestive problem, and whether reflux treatment is appropriate at the same time.