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Patient guide · Understanding

Acid reflux & GERD

Almost everyone has heartburn now and then. But when reflux happens often and starts affecting daily life, it may be gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) — a common and very treatable condition.

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By Dr. Maaz Bin Badshah · Consultant Gastroenterologist

What is happening

A muscular valve sits between your food pipe and stomach, normally keeping acid where it belongs. In reflux, this valve relaxes at the wrong times, letting stomach acid flow back up. Because the food pipe isn't built for acid, this causes the familiar burning discomfort.

Common symptoms

  • A burning feeling in the chest, often after meals or lying down (heartburn)
  • A sour or bitter taste, or food coming back up into the throat
  • Discomfort that's worse at night or when bending over
  • A persistent cough, hoarseness, or the feeling of a lump in the throat
  • Bloating, frequent burping, or nausea

What makes it worse

  • Large or late meals, especially within 3 hours of lying down
  • Trigger foods: fried and fatty food, spicy dishes, chocolate, mint, citrus, tomatoes, coffee and fizzy drinks
  • Extra weight around the middle, which presses on the stomach
  • Smoking and alcohol
  • Stress, which heightens how strongly you feel symptoms

Steps that genuinely help

  1. Eat smaller meals, and finish eating at least 3 hours before bed.
  2. Raise the head of your bed by about 15 cm (blocks under the legs, not just pillows).
  3. Identify and cut back your personal trigger foods — keep a diary for two weeks.
  4. If you carry extra weight, even modest loss markedly reduces reflux.
  5. Stop smoking and reduce alcohol.
  6. Avoid tight clothing around the waist.
About acid-reducing medicines

Antacids soothe occasional symptoms. For persistent reflux, medicines called PPIs reduce acid and let the food pipe heal. They're effective but work best alongside the lifestyle steps above — and ongoing use should be reviewed with a doctor rather than continued indefinitely on your own.

See a specialist promptly if you have any of these

Difficulty or pain swallowing, food sticking, unintended weight loss, vomiting, black or bloody stools, vomiting blood, or anaemia. These "alarm" symptoms need assessment — often with an endoscopy. New heartburn after age 50 also deserves a proper check.

How Dr. Maaz can help

If reflux is frequent, not responding to treatment, or you have alarm symptoms, an upper endoscopy allows a direct look to confirm the diagnosis, check for complications, and rule out other causes. Treatment is then tailored to you — and in selected cases, endoscopic or surgical options exist for reflux that won't settle with medicines.

Frequently asked questions

Is heartburn ever a heart problem?

Reflux and heart pain can feel similar. If chest pain is severe, spreads to the arm or jaw, or comes with sweating or breathlessness, treat it as an emergency and seek urgent care immediately.

Do I have to take medicine forever?

Not necessarily. Many improve enough with lifestyle changes to reduce or stop medicines. The goal is the lowest treatment that keeps you comfortable, reviewed with your doctor.

Can reflux cause damage over time?

Long-standing, untreated reflux can change the lining of the food pipe in a small number of people — which is exactly why persistent symptoms are worth assessing.

Reflux that won't settle?

Persistent heartburn is worth getting to the bottom of.

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This guide provides general information only and does not replace personal medical advice. If symptoms are severe or persistent, please seek a consultation. For emergencies, contact Shifa International Hospital or your nearest emergency department.