Symptoms
The NHS says the main symptoms of acid reflux are:
- heartburn – a burning sensation in the middle of your chest
- an unpleasant sour taste in your mouth, caused by stomach acid
You may also have:
- a cough or hiccups that keep coming back
- a hoarse voice
- bad breath
- bloating and feeling sick
Symptoms are often worse after eating, when lying down and when bending over. As well as some of the food factors outlined by Dr Rossi, there are other things that can exacerbate the situation.
Being a smoker, pregnant, or overweight can all make symptoms worse, as can stress and anxiety, a hiatus hernia, or a stomach ulcer. A hiatus hernia is when part of your stomach moves up into your chest, while stomach ulcers – also called peptic or gastric ulcers – are sores in the stomach.
Proton pump inhibitors are often prescribed to deal with acid reflux and heartburn. Usually, these have to be taken for a number of weeks before they have an effect.
