True or false: heartburn is simply one of those things that happen with age?
Well, it’s a bit of both. While it’s true that older people are more likely to feel the burning effects of indigestion thanks to their ageing internal muscles (new elder insult unlocked), the truth is that it can happen to anyone overindulging in particularly rich food and drink, especially over Christmas.
All that turkey and trimmings, endless pigs-in-blankets, hearty mince pies and trays of chocolate washed down with sparkling wine, spirits and rich creamy serves like eggnog are bound to have a consequence, and not just on your waistline.
According to Google Trends, searches for indigestion spiked the closer we got to Christmas 2022, ending with around 13,200 visits to the NHS’s online heartburn advice page between Christmas Day and Boxing Day. That’s the equivalent of one view every 13 seconds.
What is heartburn?
That tight feeling in your chest? The bloat around your gut? The sicky, acidic taste clawing at the back of your throat? That’s heartburn. According to the Mayo Clinic, “The pain is often worse after eating, in the evening, or when lying down or bending over.” It happens when stomach acid goes the wrong way up your food pipe, thanks to weaker stomach muscles or very rich food. While it’s incredibly uncomfortable, occasional heartburn isn’t anything to worry about, and the remedy is simple.
Who is most likely to get heartburn?
Heartburn and acid reflux can affect pregnant people, or result as a symptom of stress and anxiety. It can be caused by taking anti-inflammatory painkillers like ibuprofen or happen because of internal abnormalities like a hiatus hernia, stomach ulcer or bacterial infection. If you’re overweight or smoke, you’re more likely to experience that horrid burning sensation in your chest too.
What foods trigger heartburn the most?
According to the NHS, certain foods are more likely to bring on heartburn. We’re sad to say it’s a lot of fun stuff; think coffee, tomatoes, alcohol, chocolate and fatty or spicy foods. Peppermint can be a trigger too.
Are there natural heartburn remedies?
There are a few things you can do to help the situation. Swerving away from the aforementioned dishes and ingredients can help dial down the burn, as can eating smaller meals and not eating just before bed. Wearing looser clothing, particularly around your waist, will ensure that your stomach isn’t squeezing acid the wrong way up.
The best and fastest way to soothe the internal fire? Turning to an antacid for help. Available in liquid or chewable tablet form, these remedies work in seconds to ward off the uncomfortable symptoms of heartburn and are available over the pharmacy counter.
We’ve rounded up the best options to help alleviate heartburn. Stash them in your cupboards or first aid kit, ready to help when you need them most.
See the best antacids and other remedies to relieve heartburn below
Gaviscon Double Action Heartburn and Indigestion Tablets
The older you get, the more you realise it’s always wise to have a few of these knocking about the house, especially if you’re hosting over Christmas. Gaviscon’s mint-flavoured tablets work in seconds to offer both heartburn and indigestion relief, forming a protective barrier that lasts up to four hours. Offered here in tablet form means they’re good for taking on trips abroad too. Adults can take up to four tablets after meals or just before bed.
Buy now £11.50, Amazon
TUMS Antacid Chewable Tablets
With a flavour that previous shoppers have likened to Love Hearts, it seems almost unbelievable that TUMS fruit-flavoured antacids are made for medical use. The chewable tablets can sometimes leave a chalky feeling in the mouth, but it’s nothing that a glug of water can’t fix. And besides, the almost instantaneous soothing from acidity is worth the dry texture. Suitable for kids too.
Buy now £12.24, Amazon
Rennie Sugar Free Flavour - 72 Chewable Tablets
As soon as you begin to taste those bitter notes, pop a Rennie in for fast-acting relief. Available in a variety of flavours, the sugar-free chewies are our pick as they can be used by diabetics too. Take two an hour after meals or an hour before you go to bed for best results, with no more than 10 tablets over 24 hours. They’re effective but also gentle; these tablets can be used by pregnant and breastfeeding people too.
Buy now £5.99, Boots
Pyrocalm Control 20mg Gastro-Resistant Tablets
For folks who like to feel prepared, Pyrocalm Control's tablets offer 24-hour relief from acid reflux and heartburn from just one tablet a day. The notion of all-day freedom is appealing, especially if you haven’t room to take your usual after-meal antacids; think weddings, weekends away and parties.
It's only suitable for adults and should not be taken if you're on certain medications, so always check the packet before ingesting.
Buy now £11.55, Boots
Gaviscon Advance 24 Mint Chewable Tablets
This long-lasting heartburn solution is a ‘reflux suppressant’ and works by creating a protective shield over the stomach to stop acid from escaping. The mini chewable tablets work straight away and last up to twice as long as other antacids, giving relief well through the night or while pregnant. They can be taken by elderly and child patients too; take 1 to 2 tablets after meals and at bedtime when you start to notice symptoms.
Buy now £8.99, Boots
Gut–Smart COOL, 60 x Chewable Tablets
You can still continue to enjoy your favourite foods - in moderation, of course - thanks to Gut Smart and its COOL tablets that offer a nutritional and botanical solution to the malaise that is heartburn. This packet of 60 chewable tablets comes with a little travel tin so you can keep a stash in your bag or pocket, ready to battle heartburn whenever it occurs. Ingredients include calcium, slippery elm and marshmallow root to help with digestion while biotin aids the metabolism. All natural, they’re vegan-friendly too.
Buy now £16.95, Amazon
Manor Springs Crystallised Ginger 1kg
Eating raw ginger is an acquired taste, to say the least, but if you can get over the flavour, the benefits are innumerable. Eating or drinking root can ease bloating, help indigestion by alleviating nausea and diarrhea and it’s thought it can help reduce acid reflux too. Finish meals with a soothing ginger tea, or chew on crystallised ginger to help lessen the effects of heartburn and indigestion.
Buy now £9.99, Amazon
Silicolgel 200ml
There’s no need to turn down dinner party invites when you’ve got a sachet of Silicolgel up your sleeve. It’s a solution for wider gut issues but can help minimise the symptoms of heartburn, reflux, vomiting and IBS too. The formula works by creating a protective shield over the stomach to stop acid flowing back up and by binding irritants and toxic substances to it so they can pass through the system harmlessly.
Buy now £9.15, Holland & Barrett
ENO Lemon Fruit Salt Antacid Powder 100g
Dissolve a spoonful of this into water or juice, take a sip and count down from six - that's how many seconds it takes for this antacid to get to work. It's great for dispelling heartburn as well as general after-dinner stomach troubles like trapped wind and indigestion.
Buy now £8.98, Amazon
