Heartburn

Feel the burn

The Christmas season is nearly upon us and with that comes the usual round of parties and overindulgence. If the idea of all those rich meals and the accompanying glasses of wine sends you reaching for your antacids, then you may need some help with your heartburn.

Heartburn occurs when acids and other fluids that digest food leak up from the stomach into the oesophagus. Normally, the lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) acts as a one-way valve that stops stomach contents from moving upwards. However, when it doesn’t work properly then that’s when you feel the full force of heartburn.

So what causes heartburn? Well, some foods and drinks can stimulate acid production and/or relax the LOS. These include spicy foods, fatty foods, alcohol, tomatoes, citrus fruits, caffeinated beverages, chocolate and carbonated beverages.

And we all know that smoking is bad for us, but did you know that cigarettes contain toxic chemicals that can relax the LOS? Even something as simple as wearing your belt too tightly, or carrying extra weight around your abdomen, places increased pressure on your stomach which can result in heartburn.

What can you do to help relieve heartburn? If you only get mild heartburn infrequently, taking antacids helps relieve the pain and discomfort. If you think you are taking too many antacids too often then talk to your community pharmacist. They can help you with other medication that will help reduce the amount of acid in your stomach or assist the stomach to empty better.

Making changes to your lifestyle can also help.

Avoid lying down or bending after eating.
Steer clear of triggers like spicy or fatty foods, alcohol and chewing gum.
Try not to overeat.
Eat slowly.
Avoid tight clothing, like tight belts.
Don’t exercise on a full stomach.
Go to bed with an empty stomach and raise the head of the bed by 10-15cm.
Get enough rest and avoid physical and emotional stress.

With most people heartburn is simply just acid reflux. But do consult your community pharmacist or doctor if you have the following symptoms:

Difficulty or pain when swallowing.
Unexplained weight loss.
Black bowel motions.
Vomiting blood or dark granules.
Symptoms associated with shortness of breath, sweating, chest, back or arm pain.

And remember you can still have a good time if you don’t overdo it.

Swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)

Causes of swallowing difficulties

Swallowing difficulties can happen at any age. There are a wide range of causes for them, including:

some medicines, such as antipsychotics
heartburn and acid reflux
cancer, such as mouth or throat cancers
nervous system or brain disorders
muscle disorders
blockages or structural issues with your mouth, throat or oesophagus.

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties

Symptoms of swallowing difficulties may include:

coughing or choking when eating or drinking
bringing food back up, may be through your nose
the feeling that food is stuck in your throat
having issues chewing your food
problems with dribbling.

Swallowing difficulties can cause weight loss, dehydration and chest infections.

Diagnosing swallowing difficulties

Let your healthcare provider know if you have swallowing difficulties. They will ask you about your symptoms and check if any other health conditions you have may be the cause.

Your healthcare provider may refer you to a specialist for tests. These may include a:

gastroscopy—a camera is passed down through your mouth to look at your throat and stomach
swallowing study—your throat and stomach are x-rayed as you swallow small amounts of food.

Treating swallowing difficulties

How your swallowing difficulties are treated depends on the cause and how severe it is. Treatments may include:

medicines to treat acid reflux
swallowing therapy with a speech and language therapist
making changes to what you eat and drink, such as softer foods and using thickener in drinks
using special spoons, plates and cups
surgery to widen your oesophagus.
using special medication lubricants eg Gloup to help make it easier to swallow tablets etc. For more information click here.

Self care for swallowing difficulties

As well as seeing your healthcare provider, the following tips may help you to get food or liquids into your stomach.

Sit upright in a chair—at a table is best.
Have regular small meals instead of the main large meals.
Eat or drink small mouthfuls at a time.
If your voice is gurgly when you eat or drink, give a small cough to make sure your airway is clear.
Wet food will be easier to swallow as dry food can catch in your throat.
If your food has 2 consistencies, such as fruit in juice and cereal in milk, try to mix it into 1 consistency, or eat the solid and liquid portions separately.
Concentrate on eating and avoid talking.
Hot, ice-cold or fizzy liquids are easier to swallow than room temperature liquids.
If you are told to have thickened liquids, avoid ice-cream and jelly as they thin before swallowing.
Drink from the top half of you cup to avoid tipping your head back.

Have a look at our range of Gloup medication lubricants here which can help with difficulties swallowing tablets...

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