The symptoms of reflux
THE SYMPTOMS OF REFLUX
Georgio is a customer in his 40s who says he thinks he might have indigestion and asks if you can recommend something.
You ask Georgio to describe his symptoms; he says that once or twice a week he experiences a burning sensation in his chest, stomach discomfort and sometimes a sharp pain rising in his food pipe.
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING
WOULD YOU DO AT THIS STAGE?
Click on one of the options below
On further questioning, Georgio says that his symptoms usually occur after he has eaten. His symptoms tend to be worse if he has been out with his mates for a curry and a few pints of beer. Georgio isn’t taking any medicines, doesn’t have difficulty swallowing and keeps himself active by going to the gym and playing squash a couple of times a week. Georgio does not mention any symptoms that may indicate a more serious condition.
WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING
WOULD YOU NOW DO?
Click on one of the options below
Click CONTINUE to find out more about an effective OTC product to relieve the symptoms of reflux.
Self-care advice you can provide to your customers includes: advice on healthy eating; eating smaller, more frequent meals; not eating within 3 or 4 hours before bed; losing weight if they are overweight; not wearing clothes that are tight around their waist; not drinking too much alcohol; and stopping smoking if they smoke.
You can also advise customers to try to avoid triggers that they associate with their symptoms. These include smoking, alcohol, chocolate and fatty foods.
Raising the head of their bed by 10-20cm, so their chest and head are above the level of their waist, can help stop stomach acid from travelling up towards their throat.
Customers should be referred to their GP if:
- Pharmacy medicines and lifestyle changes are not helping their heartburn
- They have heartburn most days for 3 weeks or more
- They also have other symptoms, such as food getting stuck in their throat, difficulty swallowing, frequently being sick, have bloody vomit or poo, or have lost a lot of weight without meaning to.