Written by the Priceline Pharmacy Pacific Fair team. Reviewed by Jason Markey, BPharmSci, MPharm, Owner and Pharmacist.
General health information from a registered pharmacist. It doesn’t replace advice from your own pharmacist or doctor.
For quick heartburn relief, pharmacy medicines such as antacids can help neutralise stomach acid, and simple changes can stop it coming back: smaller meals, avoiding your trigger foods, and not lying down straight after eating. If heartburn happens often, you may have reflux disease (GORD), and it’s worth talking to a pharmacist or GP.
This guide is part of our common illnesses A–Z. It’s based on what we tell customers at the counter every week, checked against Australian health advice.
What is heartburn, and what is GORD?
Heartburn is a burning pain or discomfort in your chest. It often comes on after eating or when you lie down, and it can feel like it’s rising from your lower chest towards your throat. It happens when stomach acid moves up into your oesophagus (food pipe).
Normally, a ring of muscle at the bottom of the oesophagus keeps acid in your stomach. If that muscle relaxes at the wrong time or is weak, acid can escape upwards. That’s called reflux.
Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is when reflux happens often or causes complications. Healthdirect says GORD is usually diagnosed when reflux happens more than twice a week. It’s common in Australia and can affect people of all ages.
Symptoms of reflux and GORD
- Heartburn
- Regurgitation, where sour acid or food comes back up into your throat or mouth
- Bloating
- A cough at night, or wheezing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Chest pain
What we tell customers at the counter
“Work out your triggers first”
Healthdirect lists common heartburn triggers, including:
- large meals;
- fatty or spicy food;
- coffee and fizzy drinks;
- citrus and tomato-based foods;
- chocolate and peppermint;
- alcohol;
- smoking;
- exercising soon after eating;
- lying down soon after a meal.
Being overweight, pregnancy and a hiatus hernia (where part of the stomach pushes up into the chest) can also make reflux more likely.
Holidays on the Gold Coast are a common time for heartburn. Big restaurant dinners in Broadbeach, a few cocktails, then straight to bed is a classic combination. So is a spicy lunch followed by a swim or a surf.
“Change how and when you eat”
- Eat smaller meals more often, and eat slowly.
- Finish your evening meal at least 2 to 3 hours before bed.
- Wait before exercising after a meal.
- Wear loose clothing around your waist.
“Look at how you sleep”
Raising the head of your bed, for example with a wedge pillow, can help keep acid down overnight. Healthdirect also suggests sleeping on your left side may help.
“Small lifestyle changes add up”
Losing weight if you’re above a healthy weight, and quitting smoking, can both reduce reflux. If you’d like to check your weight and BMI, our Health Station is in store.
Which heartburn medicine should I take?
There are different types of reflux medicine at the pharmacy, and they work in different ways.
| Type | What it does |
|---|---|
| Antacids | Neutralise stomach acid for fast, short-term relief. |
| Acid-reducing medicines | Reduce how much acid your stomach makes. Some are available after talking to a pharmacist. Stronger options, or longer courses, need a prescription. |
The right choice depends on how often you get symptoms, your age, other medicines you take, and whether you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. Some reflux medicines need to be taken at a certain time before meals to work best. Ask your pharmacist which suits you, and follow the label or your pharmacist’s advice.
Medicines can help, but healthdirect notes they aren’t always a long-term fix. If you find you need them regularly, see your GP.
How can a pharmacist help with reflux?
You can talk to one of our pharmacists without an appointment. We’ll ask how often it happens, what seems to set it off, what medicines you take and whether you have any warning signs. We’ll also check your other medicines. If you’re on several regular medicines, a medication review may help.
We’ll then suggest options that suit you, or refer you to a GP if your symptoms need a closer look.
When to see a GP about heartburn
See your GP if:
- you get heartburn twice a week or more;
- pharmacy medicines aren’t helping;
- your symptoms are getting worse;
- you feel unusually tired.
What will my GP do?
Your GP can often diagnose reflux by asking about your symptoms and what sets them off. If symptoms aren’t responding to treatment, they may suggest a gastroscopy. This is a test where a thin, flexible tube with a camera is passed through your mouth and down your oesophagus into your stomach so the doctor can look for any damage. Your GP can also prescribe stronger reflux medicines if you need them.
Red flags: see a doctor promptly
- Difficulty swallowing, or pain when you swallow
- Unexplained weight loss
- Vomiting blood, or repeated vomiting
- Black or bloody poo
Chest pain: call 000
Heartburn and a heart attack can feel similar. Healthdirect advises calling triple zero (000) and asking for an ambulance if your chest pain is severe, getting worse or has lasted 10 minutes. Also call 000 if chest pain comes with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea or dizziness, or spreads to your arm, jaw, neck or back. Don’t wait to see if an antacid helps.
Sources
This article is general information only and isn’t a substitute for personal advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label and follow the directions for use. If symptoms persist or you’re worried, talk to your pharmacist or GP. In an emergency, call 000.
Talk to our pharmacists at Pacific Fair
Pop in, no appointment needed. We’re on the ground floor of Pacific Fair Shopping Centre, Broadbeach, open 7 days and until 9pm on Thursdays.