The main issues that affect the upper GI tract that can be treated over the counter are indigestion and heartburn. Indigestion – also known as dyspepsia – occurs when acid comes into contact with the lining of the digestive system. Heartburn is usually described as a burning pain in the middle of the chest and is caused when acid leaks upwards into the oesophagus. This can be uncomfortable as the oesophagus does not have the same protective lining as the stomach. There are many reasons why these two conditions might occur, including:

• Pregnancy hormones can slow down the digestive process, and the growing baby often puts pressure on the stomach, pushing its contents upwards
• Weakness of the lower oesophageal sphincter, which normally keeps the contents of the stomach where they’re meant to be, and is the cause of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (see next)
• Lifestyle factors play a significant role. Being overweight, drinking alcohol, smoking, stress and anxiety can all cause symptoms. Having a poor diet is also a major factor and this can include the type of food that is being eaten (e.g. fatty foods), the speed at which it is being eaten, or the amount of food consumed
• Some medicines can cause indigestion as a side effect. The most common culprits are NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and aspirin, but many drugs list indigestion as a possible adverse reaction in their patient information leaflets
• Ulcers are erosions of the lining of the stomach or duodenum. Causes include an infection with the Helicobacter pylori bacteria or NSAID use.

In many cases, more than one factor will be at play. For example, being overweight increases pressure in the stomach and if meals with a high fat content are eaten, this can also contribute to symptoms.

Symptoms differ from person to person, but discomfort is usually a feature. If this is experienced in the chest, it is referred to as heartburn, whereas pain slightly lower down may be referred to as indigestion. It is worth checking what customers mean when they use these terms, as they mean different things to different people. 

Did you know?

About 25 per cent of adults experience heartburn and five per cent have symptoms daily.