Acid reflux (heartburn) and indigestion
Acid reflux is a sharp discomfort in the chest or throat caused by rising stomach acid, often when lying down after eating. Sometimes it produces a bitter taste in the mouth, hoarseness, coughing, wheezing or nausea.
Indigestion (dyspepsia) can make your stomach feel uncomfortably full, along with bloating, wind and acid reflux.
Read on as we explore the symptoms and causes of these conditions, and why you might need to see one of our acid reflux specialists.
If acid reflux is affecting your quality of life, book an appointment today with our acid reflux specialist in London.
Related Symptoms
Overview | Symptoms | Causes | Acid reflux specialist | Diagnosis | Treatment | Video FAQs
Symptoms of acid reflux and indigestion
- Heartburn (a burning feeling in your chest after you eat)
- Stomach acid coming up into your mouth
- A bitter, sour taste in your mouth
- Recurring cough or hiccups
- Voice hoarseness
- Bad breath
- Bloating
- Feeling or being sick
Acid reflux and indigestion are not the same thing. Acid reflux symptoms relate to stomach acid coming back up your throat. In contrast, indigestion is a general term to describe discomfort and fullness after you eat. Sometimes a person might have both conditions.
The symptoms of indigestion include:
- Feeling full despite not overeating
- Uncomfortable fullness after eating
- Heartburn
- Upper abdominal pain
- Discomfort
- Bloating
- Feeling sick
What causes acid reflux and indigestion?
Most people experience acid reflux from time to time. Often there is no cause. But the following might trigger an episode:
- Fatty or spicy foods
- Coffee or alcohol
- Being overweight
- Smoking
- Being pregnant
- Stress and anxiety
- Certain medications
Indigestion can also be caused by these triggers. In addition, eating too quickly or too much can cause indigestion.
Why see an acid reflux specialist?
If you get symptoms frequently (mild cases every week) or it is more severe (two or more times a week), it is a good idea to visit an acid reflux specialist.
Experiencing frequent or severe symptoms means that you may have a condition called gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. This is also known as GORD or GERD for short.
An acid reflux specialist is a gastroenterologist who specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of the condition. Speak to our acid reflux specialist in London for a proper diagnosis and treatment that can help you to manage your condition.
Left untreated, GORD can lead to a condition called Barrett’s oesophagus. This is where the cells that line the oesophagus change. People with Barrett’s oesophagus are slightly more likely to develop oesophageal cancer.
Diagnosis
Our acid reflux specialist will ask you about the symptoms you’ve been experiencing and their frequency. This may be enough for us to reach a diagnosis or we may need to do further tests.
If we think you are experiencing GORD, we may carry out a type of endoscopy called a gastroscopy. If you need a gastroscopy, we’ll use a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end to see inside your oesophagus and the upper part of your digestive tract.
A gastroscopy helps us investigate your symptoms and to diagnose or rule out GORD as the cause of your symptoms.
To confirm your GORD diagnosis, you may also need a 96-hour wireless pH capsule using BRAVO or Alpha device. We will use an endoscope to place a small capsule in your oesophagus to measure the acidity of any fluid that rises up.
This test helps us assess whether you have GORD and require treatment.
Once we have reached a diagnosis, we can discuss which acid reflux treatments might help you.
Acid reflux treatment
The condition can often be treated through lifestyle changes, including:
- Dietary changes (avoiding fried or fatty foods, aspirin, caffeine and alcohol)
- Not smoking
- Controlling your weight
- Making sure you don’t lie down soon after a meal (symptoms are often worse at night)
Over-the-counter medications may also help. However, if you find you are taking these several times a week, you should seek medical advice.
If lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications don’t help, we may prescribe a stronger medication for you.
If your condition doesn’t respond to medication or is more severe, we may suggest anti-reflux surgery or other procedures. These help to reinforce the lower oesophageal sphincter.
Anti-reflux procedures include Stretta, transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF) and LINX.
Book an appointment
Our team of highly specialised doctors offer trusted medical advice and expert private care for a wide range of digestive disorders, including acid reflux and indigestion.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our acid reflux specialist if you’re experiencing symptoms of acid reflux, heartburn, or indigestion.
Treatments / Symptom Management
Medications to suppress or counteract acid
Lifestyle modifications (diet, weight loss, exercise)
Anti-reflux procedures (Stretta, transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF), LINX)
Anti-reflux surgery (laparoscopic/keyhole Nissen fundoplication)