Heartburn When You Are Sick

A viral illness, fever or pain can change when and what you eat. Coughing, lying down more often, or repeated vomiting can also increase pressure and bring stomach contents into the oesophagus. Some medicines may irritate the stomach or relax its reflux barrier. Burning in the chest, sour fluid and nausea can occur together, but heartburn does not explain every type of chest or abdominal pain. Acid reflux is one possibility; gastritis, a hiatus hernia or peptic ulcer are other conditions a clinician may consider when symptoms persist.

Take small, frequent sips of fluid and choose light meals as tolerated. Avoid lying flat immediately after eating; raise your upper body when resting. If vomiting has occurred, rinse your mouth with water and wait until your stomach settles before trying more food. Use medicines exactly as directed and ask a pharmacist whether any new remedy could worsen reflux. Do not stop an essential prescription without advice. If you already use acid reflux medication, check whether illness or dehydration changes how it should be taken.

Seek medical advice if you cannot keep fluids down, pass very little urine, have ongoing vomiting, worsening abdominal pain, painful swallowing, food sticking or black stools. Get urgent help for severe or unfamiliar chest pressure, breathlessness, fainting, sweating, or pain spreading to the arm, back or jaw. Prompt assessment is also needed if symptoms are rapidly worsening or do not settle as the illness improves.

Ask whether an illness or medicine is driving the burning, how to maintain fluids, whether your current treatment should change, and which symptoms require same-day care.