What is heartburn/GORD?

Heartburn affects 1 in 5 people every week and is the most common symptom of acid reflux/GORD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease).

When suffering from acid reflux/GORD, the acid produced by the stomach for digestion leaks up through the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES). The burning sensation associated with heartburn occurs when the escaped stomach acid irritates the delicate tissue of the oesophagus (food pipe).

What are the symptoms of heartburn?

The symptoms commonly associated with heartburn include:

Burning sensation in the chest/throat
Acidic taste in the mouth and back of the throat
Nausea and vomiting
Lack of sleep
Loss of appetite

What causes heartburn?

As a symptom of acid reflux/GORD, heartburn is caused by anything that relaxes the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) and allows acid to enter the oesophagus

When functioning normally, the LES acts as a one-way valve allowing food into the stomach, but preventing the contents of the stomach from moving back into the oesophagus. Relaxation of the LES leads to the reflux of acid into the oesophagus, causing irritation and the burning sensation of heartburn.

The relaxation of lower oesophageal sphincter can be caused by:

Trigger foods/drinks, including spicy and fatty food, onions, citrus fruits (grapefruit, oranges, etc.), alcohol and coffee.
Eating large meals, eating quickly and not chewing food sufficiently before swallowing.
Being overweight and a lack of exercise.
Eating late at night and lying down soon after eating can lead to night-time heartburn.
Smoking
Stress and anxiety has been linked with persistent acid reflux/heartburn.
Some over-the-counter and prescription medicines can have side effects that cause heartburn.

Heartburn Treatment

If you are suffering from acid reflux the good news is that are a many treatment options available, both natural and synthetic. The treatment that is right for you will depend on the severity of your symptoms and how you personally want to treat your heartburn.

The two main treatments for heartburn are: antacids and alginates.

Antacids work by neutralising any stomach acid that has escaped from the stomach and into the oesophagus. They can provide quick effective relief from heartburn, but represent a reactive treatment that targets only the symptoms, and not the cause of acid reflux.

Alginates work by creating a “raft” that floats on the contents of the stomach, forming a barrier that prevents the reflux of stomach acid into the oesophagus.

Although the reflux of stomach acid is responsible for heartburn, repeated use of antacids can lead to excessively low levels of stomach acid that restricts normal healthy digestion. This highlights the importance of consulting your doctor or pharmacist before seeking treatment.

Preventing Treatment

For some people a few simple lifestyle changes can be enough to treat and prevent heartburn and indigestion.

Avoid trigger foods. The first step to preventing heartburn is to find out the food/drink that triggers it. If you find that, for example, coffee regularly gives you heartburn simply try to cut back or avoid drinking it.

Healthy Diet. Maintaining a healthy diet is one of the most effective ways to prevent heartburn. A healthy well-balanced diet with regular meal times, and avoiding eating late at night are both easy prevention methods. Also, by simply eating smaller meals and chewing your food sufficiently, you can greatly reduce the chance of suffering from heartburn.

Exercise. Regular exercise is just as important as a healthy diet when it comes to general well-being and good digestive health. Even a short 20-minute walk after meals can significantly help your body digest food and reduce the risk of heartburn.

Product Recommendation

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Magastic EXTRA is a natural remedy containing a stronger dose of Chios mastic gum. Mastic gum has strong anti-inflammatory properties to help soothe the irritated tissue of the stomach and oesophagus allowing healing and recovery. Mastic gum has also been shown, even at low doses (1 mg per day for two weeks), to cure peptic ulcers rapidly (published in the New England Journal of Medicine).

In addition to this, other studies have shown the H. pylori bacterium becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotic treatments. In clinical trials, mastic gum killed some of the resistant strains tested.