Summer is finally here, and for many, that means BBQs, pool parties, weddings, cold drinks, late nights, and more time spent socialising. While most look forward to the summer fun, if you’re one of the millions who suffer from heartburn, you know how unpleasant it can be, and it can ruin all the fun that comes with summer!
What is heartburn?
Heartburn is characterized by a feeling of burning in your chest or throat and has nothing to do with your heart. It occurs when stomach acid rises into the oesophagus, while the burning sensation is usually the result of stomach acid leaking up into the food pipe.
Many things can trigger heartburn. The most common cause is food that’s acidic or high in fat. Examples of such foods are citrus fruits, tomatoes, onions, chocolate, coffee, cheese, and peppermint. Spicy foods or large meals can also be the root of distress.
What can I do to prevent heartburn?
Certain lifestyle factors can increase your risk of heartburn:
- eating large meals
- eating just before going to bed
- eating fast
- wearing tight clothing
- stress
- smoking
- obesity
- pregnancy
Instead, eat smaller and more frequent meals to prevent your stomach from getting too full. Try to slow down while you’re eating. Eating several hours before going to bed gives your body enough time to digest before you are lying down, a position that makes acid reflux more likely.
Smoking increases the production of stomach acid and relaxes the muscle between the stomach contents and the food pipe. This allows excess acid to splash back into the food pipe. Pressure on the stomach is caused by excessive weight in the body’s midsection. During pregnancy, the same effect happens when strain exerted on the stomach can push its contents back up the food pipe.
Fortunately, there are also many ways to treat heartburn. Making some simple changes to your diet and lifestyle can also help reduce the frequency of heartburn episodes. Over-the-counter medications like antacids can be effective in relieving symptoms temporarily. However, if you experience heartburn frequently, there are more effective over the counter solutions.
An over-the-counter solution: Emazole Control®
Most will experience heartburn occasionally, but if the symptoms become frequent, it’s time to use medication. Chronic symptoms are regarded as mild reflux occurring at least twice a week or moderate to severe acid reflux occurring at least once a week.
Emazole Control® is used in adults for the short-term treatment of reflux symptoms such as heartburn. It contains the ingredient esomeprazole, which belongs to a group of medicines called proton pump inhibitors. Esomeprazole works by reducing the amount of acid produced by the stomach.
Once you make appropriate lifestyle changes and minimise the consumption of trigger foods, a course of Emazole Control® will be sufficient to eliminate heartburn.
If your heartburn is accompanied by unexplained symptoms such as weight loss, vomiting, or blood-stained faces, always see a medical professional.
Enjoy the summer season heartburn-free!
So, don’t let heartburn ruin your summer fun! Instead, avoid trigger foods and drinks, and make sure to take your medication if you know you are prone to heartburn or start to feel the associated discomfort. With a little bit of planning, you can enjoy all the best parts of summer without any stomach pain.
Sources:
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)—Symptoms and causes. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 11 May 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gerd/symptoms-causes/syc-20361940
EMAZOLE. (2017, January 3). Rowex Consumer Healthcare. http://rowex.ie/emazole/
