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Check nowAcid reflux is a familiar symptom of indigestion and normally occurs due to an excessive amount of gastric acid. This acid can be tolerated by the stomach but sometimes it can escape up the oesophagus, causing irritation and pain. Here, our digestive expert Ali Cullen describes why some people are prone to acid reflux and how the symptoms can be reduced using herbal remedies or self-help solutions.
Indigestion is one of the more common health problems encountered. Symptoms will be familiar to most of us – for instance, after eating a bit too much. This is ‘normal indigestion’.
However, some people experience more regular bouts of indigestion to the extent that it becomes a health problem. A number of symptoms can be experienced and one of the most common is heartburn caused by acid reflux.
This page describes heartburn and acid reflux in relation to the digestive system and indigestion.
Indigestion is basically a disturbance to the normal digestive process taking place in the stomach and first part of the digestive system.
When food is eaten, the stomach secretes two types of fluid:
As you will know, acid is an irritant, but the stomach is able to tolerate its own secretions because of a special type of cell lining the stomach walls.
There are times however, when the acidic contents of the stomach escape backwards and upwards into the gullet (oesophagus) - this is known as acid reflux. The gullet does not possess the same special cells as the stomach, and as a consequence, acid starts to irritate the lining, giving rise to inflammation and pain.
As the gullet lies next to the heart, the origin of the pain can sometimes be mistaken for coming from the heart as with a heart-attack or angina. This is why we have the term ‘heartburn’.
On the other hand, pain from the heart can also be mistaken for indigestion – so if your symptoms of indigestion are severe and persistent, or accompanied by difficulty breathing or pain down one or both arms, seek medical advice urgently.
Acid reflux and heartburn are more likely to affect you when you:
Here are some steps you can take to help yourself and reduce the severity of heartburn:
Many instances of heartburn are one-off episodes never to return again. Others resolve after the implementation of a few simple changes to diet and lifestyle. However, there are some people who are troubled by the symptom on a regular basis.
A class of herbs known as ‘stomach bitters’ have been used to help improve digestive function for decades. They deal with indigestion symptoms by helping the stomach digest food better.
Ali's TOP TIP: Digestisan drops contain artichoke, dandelion, boldo and peppermint – all stomach bitters. Best taken in liquid form, 5 to 10 minutes before each meal.
Your doctor may prescribe medicines for indigestion such as antacids, H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors.
Seek advice from your doctor if you have unexplained digestion symptoms, if they worsen and become severe or do not improve with treatment. Also, seek help urgently if you notice any blood in your stool or vomit.
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Check nowAs the A.Vogel Digestion advisor, I use Digestisan and Silicol® gel to help manage indigestion and Biotta Potato Juice as part of an alkaline diet.
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