Heartburn/indigestion

Ever reached the bottom of a bottomless bucket of popcorn or scraped the last bits of cheese from the nacho platter at the bowling alley? We all overdo it with food sometimes, particularly during the holidays or other special occasions. When overindulgence gets the better of you, over-the-counter products can help counteract the discomforts of indigestion.

You've just finished a fantastic 5-course meal and are content with sitting back and relaxing - until you get that burning feeling in your chest. Many people have felt the uncomfortable sensation of heartburn, and though it's not life-threatening, it can cause a disruption in your life and limit your daily activities.

Heartburn is that burning feeling in the upper part of your stomach or lower chest that rises towards the throat and often happens after you have eaten a big meal or spicy foods. There is a valve that normally stops the contents of the stomach from backing up into the esophagus, the tube that brings food from the mouth to the stomach.

Heartburn happens when stomach acid washes up into the esophagus (food tube), causing burning and pain in the throat and chest.

What is heartburn? Heartburn is often described as a burning pain just below or behind the breastbone. Some describe the pain as rhythmic or coming in waves from the stomach up toward the chest or the throat. For some people the pain is associated with large or fatty meals, and some experience pain during the night that disturbs their sleep.

Heartburn can be triggered by certain lifestyle and diet habits.

Indigestion is also known as dyspepsia. 25% of the general population is affected by dyspepsia, with each person describing their symptoms differently – stomach pain, stomachache, heartburn, bloating, or fullness after only small amounts of food.

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