Acid Reflux

Acid Reflux: What Is It and Why Does It Happen?

Acid reflux may happen after meals (especially when eating trigger foods) or at bedtime. When you lie down, stomach acid can easily flow backward into your esophagus (the tube connecting your mouth to your stomach).

Because acid doesn't belong there, it irritates the esophagus lining, causing a painful, burning sensation we call heartburn. Heartburn is a major symptom of acid reflux.

Who Gets Acid Reflux

While anyone can experience it, acid reflux often becomes more common as you age. This is usually due to naturally slower digestion, weaker muscles, or medications for other health conditions.¹

Why You Shouldn’t Ignore It

When acid reflux episodes occur repeatedly without treatment, they can progress into gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This can damage esophageal tissues and lead to serious health complications.

That's why it's important to recognize your acid reflux triggers and seek treatment early to prevent complications.

Watch out for the signs of Acid Reflux

Acid reflux can cause a variety of symptoms, including:²

• A burning sensation in your chest or throat (heartburn).
• A bitter or sour taste in the back of your throat, caused by rising stomach acid.
• Difficulty or pain when swallowing, which can eventually lead to a sore throat.
• Frequent burping, often caused by swallowing more air as you try to keep the acid down.
• Nausea and loss of appetite, as rising acid can make you feel queasy.

In some cases, acid reflux can also trigger respiratory symptoms like coughing, wheezing, or shortness of breath if stomach acid enters your airways.

What Makes Acid Reflux Symptoms Worse

The severity of your discomfort depends on the cause of your reflux. However, symptoms generally worsen after you bend over, smoke, or drink alcohol.²

What Causes Acid Reflux or Hyperacidity?

Each person has different acid reflux triggers. What bothers one person's stomach may not affect another, especially if you're naturally acidic. Here are the most common triggers to watch for.

Food and Drink Triggers

The foods and beverages you consume play a major role in triggering acid reflux.³

• Fried and greasy food: These increase stomach acid and take longer to digest.
• Overeating: Eating large meals takes time to digest and triggers excess stomach acid production.
• Eating too quickly: Fast eating doesn't allow proper digestion.
• Fatty food and dairy products: High-fat foods stimulate your stomach to produce more acid.
• Spicy food: Foods containing capsaicin can irritate your stomach lining and trigger acid reflux.
• Alcohol and soft drinks: Caffeine and carbonation from soft drinks and beer can cause acid to rise into your esophagus. Alcohol also relaxes your lower esophageal sphincter (LES).
• Caffeinated products (coffee and chocolate): Caffeine relaxes your LES and increases stomach acid production. Consider switching to low-caffeine alternatives.

Other Common Causes

Your lifestyle habits, physical changes, and health conditions can also play a major role in triggering symptoms:⁴

• Pregnancy: Weight gain and hormonal changes (estrogen and progesterone) weaken your LES and increase stomach pressure.⁵
• Being overweight or obese: Extra weight puts pressure on your stomach, forcing your LES to open.
• Smoking: Smoking and secondhand smoke relax your LES, trigger coughing, slow digestion, and increase stomach acid production.
• Stress and anxiety: Stress reduces stomach protection and can worsen acid reflux symptoms.
• Age: Older adults have slower digestion and produce more acid. Younger children may experience acid reflux as their digestive systems develop.
• Certain medications: Some medicines can relax your LES. Talk to your doctor about your medications and acid reflux risk.

Tips to Treat & Prevent Acid Reflux and Hyperacidity

If you experience sudden acid reflux, consider these to get relief:

• Take over-the-counter (OTC) medication. An OTC option like Sodium Alginate + Sodium Bicarbonate + Calcium Carbonate (Gaviscon Double Action) Liquid offers fast, long-lasting relief from acid reflux, works in as fast as 3 minutes and lasts up to 4 hours.⁸
• Sit up and don't lie down. Lying down removes the helpful effect of gravity, allowing stomach acid to travel upward into your esophagus. Staying upright keeps the acid where it belongs.

If you suffer from frequent acid reflux, you may need long-term prevention. Start with small and manageable lifestyle adjustments that you can easily build into your daily routine:^6-7

• Identify your food triggers: Learn which foods cause your reflux so you can adjust your diet.
• Maintain a healthy weight: Carrying excess weight increases pressure on your stomach, pushing acid upward. If you need help managing your weight, consult your doctor for a safe plan.
• Eat smaller, more frequent meals: Eat smaller, more frequent meals. A full stomach makes reflux more likely.
• Wait at least 3 hours after eating before lying down: When you do lie down, elevate your head 6–8 inches higher than your feet to minimize reflux.
• Avoid smoking and alcohol: Both nicotine and alcohol relax the lower esophageal sphincter (the valve between your esophagus and stomach), making it easier for acid to escape.
• Manage stress and prioritize sleep: Stress makes your esophagus more sensitive to acid. Regular exercise and adequate sleep can help lower stress levels and improve overall digestion.

• Schedule regular check-ups with your doctor. If your symptoms persist, a healthcare professional can help you rule out more serious conditions and customize your treatment.

How to get Acid Reflux Relief?

For fast, long-lasting relief, take Sodium Alginate + Sodium Bicarbonate + Calcium Carbonate (Gaviscon Double Action). It soothes and cools the food pipe (or the esophagus), neutralizes excess acid, and forms a protective raft so that acid and food won’t go up the lower esophageal sphincter (LES).

Sodium Alginate + Sodium Bicarbonate + Calcium Carbonate (Gaviscon Double Action) Liquid works in as fast as 3 minutes (for heartburn) and lasts up to 4 hours.⁸

Dosage of liquid sachets:

• Sodium Alginate + Sodium Bicarbonate + Calcium Carbonate (Gaviscon) Liquid Sachet
• Sodium Alginate + Sodium Bicarbonate + Calcium Carbonate (Gaviscon Double Action) Liquid Sachet

For adults and children 12 years and above, take one to two 10ml sachets after eating and at bedtime, up to four times a day. For children below 12 years old, consult your pediatrician before administering.

Before taking this medication, always read the label carefully. This medicine contains sodium and calcium. If you're on a sodium or calcium-restricted diet, consult your doctor before taking this product.

Do not use after the expiry date listed on the package (month/year).

When to seek medical attention: If symptoms persist for more than 7 days, consult your doctor.¹¹

REFERENCES

1. Cheyne, K. (2025, November 26). Why heartburn becomes more common with age. Canadian Digestive Health Foundation. https://cdhf.ca/en/why-heartburn-becomes-more-common-with-age/
2. Mayo Clinic Staff. (2025, April 23). Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) | Symptoms & causes. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gerd/symptoms-causes/syc-20361940
3. Restivo, J., & Hendley, J. (2026, January 23). GERD diet: Foods to avoid to reduce acid reflux. Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/gerd-diet-foods-to-avoid-to-reduce-acid-reflux
4. Zhang, M., Hou, Z.-K., Huang, Z.-B., Chen, X.-L., & Liu, F.-B. (2021). Dietary and Lifestyle Factors Related to Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Systematic Review. Therapeutics and Clinical Risk Management, 17, 305–323. https://doi.org/10.2147/TCRM.S296680
5. Ali, R. A. R., Hassan, J., & Egan, L. J. (2022). Review of recent evidence on the management of heartburn in pregnant and breastfeeding women. BMC Gastroenterology, 22(1), 219. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-022-02287-w
6. NIDDK. (2020, July). Treatment for GER & GERD. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/acid-reflux-ger-gerd-adults/treatment
7. Acid Reflux & GERD. Cleveland Clinic. (2026, July 31). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17019-acid-reflux-gerd
8. Strugala, V., Dettmar, P., Sarratt, K., Sykes, J., Berry, P., & Thomas, E. (2010). A randomized, controlled, crossover trial to investigate times to onset of the perception of soothing and cooling by over-the-counter heartburn treatments. Journal of International Medical Research, 38(2), 449–457. https://doi.org/10.1177/147323001003800208\
9. Jiang, Y., Sonu, I., Garcia, P., Fernandez-Becker, N. Q., Kamal, A. N., Zikos, T. A., Singh, S., Neshatian, L., Triadafilopoulos, G., Goodman, S. N., & Clarke, J. O. (2022). The impact of intermittent fasting on patients with suspected gastroesophageal reflux disease. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 57(10), 1001–1006. https://doi.org/10.1097/mcg.0000000000001788
10. Dunbar, K., Yadlapati, R., & Konda, V. (2022). Heartburn, nausea, and vomiting during pregnancy. American Journal of Gastroenterology, 117(10S), 10–15. https://doi.org/10.14309/ajg.0000000000001958
11. Sodium Alginate + Sodium Bicarbonate + Calcium Carbonate (Gaviscon Double Action) Patient Information Leaflet (Dec 2023)

ASC Reference No. R0105N091526G