Acid Reflux: What It Feels Like and What Works

Burning in your chest after meals? That’s acid reflux. For many people it’s occasional and annoying. For others it’s a daily problem that ruins sleep and focus. This page gives straight, useful steps you can try today and explains when to get medical help.

What causes acid reflux and common triggers

Acid reflux happens when stomach acid moves up into the esophagus. The usual culprit is a weak lower esophageal sphincter (LES) or pressure from overeating. Common triggers are easy to spot: large meals, fatty or fried foods, spicy dishes, citrus, tomato-based sauces, chocolate, coffee, alcohol, and smoking. Lying down right after eating and being overweight also increase reflux. Pregnancy often makes reflux worse because of pressure on the stomach.

Symptoms can vary. Heartburn (a burning feeling behind the breastbone) is the most common. You might also have sour or bitter taste, burping, hoarseness, a chronic cough, or trouble swallowing. If symptoms come on suddenly with chest pain that spreads to your arm or jaw, treat it like an emergency and seek care right away.

Quick relief and longer-term steps

Need fast relief? Over-the-counter antacids (like calcium carbonate) neutralize acid quickly and work well for occasional heartburn. If you get relief but symptoms keep coming back, try a short course of an H2 blocker (famotidine) for a few days. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as omeprazole are stronger and help if reflux is frequent, but don’t use them for months on your own without checking with a doctor.

Simple daily changes often cut reflux a lot: eat smaller meals, avoid eating 2–3 hours before bed, raise the head of your bed by 6–8 inches, lose even a small amount of weight if you’re overweight, and quit smoking. Wear loose clothes around your waist. Keep a food diary for two weeks to spot personal triggers—cut out one suspect food at a time and see if symptoms improve.

If lifestyle changes and OTC meds aren’t enough, see your doctor. They may suggest tests like an upper endoscopy, pH monitoring, or esophageal manometry to check for inflammation, acid levels, or muscle problems. For severe, medicine-resistant reflux, surgical options like fundoplication or newer endoscopic treatments may be considered.

Watch for alarm signs that need prompt care: unintended weight loss, vomiting blood, black stools, persistent trouble swallowing, or chest pain that doesn’t feel like your normal heartburn. These require immediate evaluation.

Want practical next steps? Start with a two-week food diary and try the bedtime rule—no food within three hours of lying down. If you still have symptoms more than twice a week, make an appointment. Managing reflux is often a mix of small daily changes and the right medicine, not a single miracle cure.