Home remedies for acid reflux

Acid reflux happens when stomach contents travel back towards the food pipe. You may notice burning behind the breastbone, a sour taste, regurgitation, hoarseness or a cough, especially after eating or lying down. A large meal, tight clothing around the waist, bending soon after eating and late-night snacks can make symptoms more noticeable. Persistent reflux can disturb sleep and irritate the throat.

Choose smaller meals, eat slowly and remain upright after eating. Leave a gap before going to bed, and raise the head end of the bed if symptoms are worse overnight; extra pillows alone may bend the body and may not help. Notice personal triggers such as fatty meals, spicy food, coffee, chocolate, mint, alcohol or fizzy drinks, then reduce only the items that clearly affect you. Avoid smoking and loosen restrictive waistbands. A pharmacist can discuss a suitable short-term antacid or alginate; follow the label and check before use if you take other medicines.

Seek urgent help for chest tightness with breathlessness, sweating, faintness or pain spreading to the arm or jaw, because heart problems can feel similar to reflux. Arrange a medical review if swallowing is difficult or painful, food seems to stick, vomiting persists, vomit contains blood, stools are black, or you are losing weight without trying. Book an appointment when symptoms keep returning, disturb sleep or need frequent pharmacy treatment.

Could another condition, such as a hiatus hernia, be contributing to my symptoms? Which medicines or treatments are suitable for my pattern of reflux, and how long should I try them?