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WITH one in three Irish people suffering from heartburn once a week or more, Dr Ciara Kelly is once again encouraging people to consult their local pharmacist on how best to manage symptoms, reminding the nation that heartburn is something that can be effectively treated.

The pharmacist should be the first choice for advice, as many heartburn cases can be solved without a visit to the GP. We are in the middle of National Heartburn Awareness Week which highlights a condition that affects over half of the population.

After a successful inaugural Heartburn Awareness Week in 2015, this October the nation is being advised to be mindful of the condition and its lifestyle effects, and to seek more information from their pharmacist if suffering regularly from heartburn symptoms.

New research conducted in 2016 as part of Heartburn Awareness Week has shown that a significant 78% of heartburn sufferers find it has a negative impact on their lifestyle. When looking at the impact it can have on daily life, 49% find it disturbs sleep, 39% admit it limits their food choices while a quarter admit that heartburn disrupts their day, highlighting how much it affects sufferers’ daily lives. Almost one third (29%) feel physical pain as a result of the condition, with one in 10 stating it negatively impacts their social lives or relationships, yet many are still unaware of the variety of treatments available in pharmacies.

Heartburn occurs when gastric acid flows back from the stomach into the oesophagus when the lower oesophageal sphincter does not close tightly. Unlike the stomach, the oesophagus does not have a protective lining and is sensitive to the acid which burns its walls, causing that painful burning feeling.

Dr Ciara Kelly, MD, explains, “Heartburn is a relatively common condition that is not always a cause for concern. However, frequent heartburn is something that can have a serious impact on day-to-day life and should be dealt with in an effective manner. If you are suffering from heartburn more than once a week, my recommendation is to discuss your symptoms with your local pharmacist to ensure you are benefitting from the appropriate treatment.”

Research has shown that a quarter of sufferers feel they have to remember to bring antacids with them at all times. Antacids are still the most popular OTC medicine for heartburn, however for frequent heartburn proton pumps inhibitors (PPIs) such as esomeprazole (only available in pharmacy) or H2 blockers may be more suitable. H2 blockers and proton-pump inhibitors reduce the production of acid in the stomach rather than simply neutralising existing acid.

Dr Kelly continues, “Heartburn can be quite a debilitating ailment and can worsen if not treated properly. While there are a number of ‘trigger foods’ that can make it worse, it is not something always caused by dietary choices, however they can help alleviate it. It is however something that can affect our lifestyles, cause embarrassment, limit the foods we can enjoy and even affect our relationships or social life. In addition, over time, the backflow of acid can cause damage to the lining of the oesophagus and can cause serious medical conditions. For this reason, during Heartburn Awareness Week we are encouraging people to consider their symptoms and to seek more information from their pharmacist.”

In addition to speaking with pharmacists, Dr Kelly advises those suffering with heartburn symptoms to:

· Keep a food diary and listen to your body. Pay heed to what causes your heartburn to flare up, monitor and avoid these foods
· Don't eat late at night before you're about to go to bed, having a full stomach before you lie down will increase acid backflow and put pressure on digestion
· Avoid spicy foods that affect your stomach balance, especially anything with lots of chilli
· Consciously add acid-neutralising foods to the diet, such as almond milk, bananas, ginger, porridge
· Keep your alcohol intake within recommended limits (17 units for a man, 11 units for a woman per week, or less!)
· Reduce your tea and coffee intake, again especially before you go to bed
 

 
Above: Dr Ciara Kelly.