Gastro-oesophageal reflux: self-help
If you are having an occasional episode of heartburn, it could be related to your diet and lifestyle. However, if you are having recurrent heartburn or reflux you should see your doctor. Try these suggestions to ease heartburn or reflux.
- If you are overweight, losing some weight will help.
- You will most likely have noticed that certain foods, such as fatty foods or tomato-based foods, appear to aggravate your reflux. Caffeinated drinks and chocolate can also exacerbate reflux. Avoid these foods.
- Large meals and large portions should be avoided.
- Alcohol tends to aggravate reflux, so cut down on the amount that you drink.
- Likewise, cigarette smoking makes reflux worse, so cut down or preferably quit.
- If you regularly eat late at night, try timing your meal so that you finish at least 2 hours before lying down or going to bed.
- If you have reflux symptoms at night, try propping the head of the bed up by putting an old phone directory or a brick under the feet of the bed at the head end. This will prevent stomach contents rising.
- Try taking an antacid. Be aware though, that using antacids for long periods can have side effects such as diarrhoea.
- Talk to your pharmacist about taking one of the medicines used to treat gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). H2-antagonists (e.g. Zantac Relief, Pepzan) and proton pump inhibitors (e.g. Maxor Heartburn Relief, Pariet 10, Somac Heartburn Relief, Suvacid Heartburn Relief, Salpraz Heartburn Relief) are available over the counter from your pharmacist and can be used to treat mild intermittent symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux in the short term.
However, if none of these suggestions helps, or if you have an attack of choking, food is getting stuck in your gullet on the way down, it hurts to swallow or you are vomiting blood, see your doctor at once.
Your doctor will be able to provide an accurate diagnosis and determine the correct course of treatment. Medication may be sufficient to prevent the symptoms of reflux, however, your doctor may decide further tests are needed or that you might need to see a specialist.
Reflux disease will not usually go away on its own. Medication can relieve the symptoms but doesn’t affect the underlying causes. If medicines are stopped, the symptoms often return. Discuss treatment options with your doctor or specialist.
Last Reviewed: 01 June 2011
- 1. Gastro-oesophageal reflux (revised February 2011). In: eTG complete. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited; 2011 Mar. http://online.tg.org.au/complete/ (accessed May 2011).
2. Pariet 10 Prescribing Information. J&J Pacific. Accessed via eMIMS. Date of TGA approved information: 01/04/2010.
3. Somac Heartburn Relief Prescribing Information. Nycomed. Accessed via eMIMS. Date of TGA approved information: 31/07/2008.
4. Zantac Relief. GlaxoSmithKline Consumer. Accessed via eMIMS. Date of TGA approved information: 27/11/2002.
5. Pepzan. Ascent Pharma . Accessed via eMIMS. Date of TGA approved information: 24/11/2005.
