On the surface, heartburn and GERD may seem the same but despite their similarities, they are different conditions. Heartburn, also known as acid reflux, is when stomach acid travels back up your oesophagus, causing a burning pain in the chest and throat. GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is a more severe form of acid reflux that occurs at least twice a week.

GERD and Heartburn
It’s perfectly normal to experience heartburn from time to time, but both conditions can be quite painful for the sufferer, especially with GERD since it happens on a more frequent basis.

GERD Symptoms
In addition to heartburn, people with GERD may also experience:

• Difficulty swallowing
• Feeling like something is stuck in your throat
• Regurgitation of food or sour liquid
• Persistent cough
• Trouble sleeping

• A burning feeling in your chest
• Burning or pain in the throat
• Sour, hot taste in the back of the throat
• Difficulty swallowing

Who is at Risk for GERD and Heartburn?
People who consume spicy foods or acidic foods are more at risk for experiencing heartburn or GERD. Other risk factors include being older in age, being a smoker, or being overweight. Pregnant women also report that they get heartburn more often during their pregnancy. Taking aspirin and NSAIDs can cause stomach upset and heartburn, especially if you take them often.

Some medical conditions seem to make people more likely to get heartburn like connective tissue disorders, hiatal hernias, and esophageal cancer.

GERD with Obesity
Being overweight or obese can impact your health in many ways ranging from making you more likely to have high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, and muscle, bone, and joint pain. Additionally, the more weight you carry, the more likely you are to suffer from heartburn.

Researchers believe this is because there is more mechanical pressure put on the stomach when you are overweight. Increased waist circumference may also cause more esophageal acid exposure as well.

Best Ways to Avoid Heartburn
Don’t eat close to bedtime because your body is less able to digest food if you are lying down. Eating excessive amounts of acidic foods and drinking a lot of coffee and alcohol also raises your risk. Try to lose weight if you are overweight.

• Onions
• Spicy food
• Citrus fruits and juices
• Tomatoes
• Chocolate
• Peppermint
• Fatty foods
• Fried foods
• Excessively large meals
• Carbonated drinks
• Caffeinated drinks

Heartburn Treatment
There are antacids, indigestion medicines, and other treatments you can get from a pharmacist in most shops that will treat heartburn symptoms as soon as they start. These medications are fast and effective, but if you have persistent heartburn or GERD, there are other treatments you can take to prevent acid reflux from occurring.

• Lansoprazole Capsules: Lansoprazole reduces the amount of acid your stomach makes and can provide relief from GERD, acid reflux, and ulcers within 2-3 days.
• Omeprazole Losec Capsules: Omeprazole decreases the amount of stomach acid produced in your stomach, reducing the chance you’ll get acid reflux or stomach ulcers. Noticeable relief can start in as soon as 2-3 days.

Stop suffering with painful acid reflux and buy Lansoprazole Capsules and Omeprazole Losec Capsules online in the UK from Pharmacy Planet.