HEALTH
A burning issue
If you’re still plagued by heartburn and acid reflux long after seasonal leftovers have been eaten, it’s time to see the doctor – there are new treatments on offer
by PATSY WESTCOTT
Many of us are familiar with the burning chest pain and acidic taste that signals heartburn and reflux. Indeed, so common are they that they’re the most searched-for terms on the NHS website at this time of year. NHS Digital recorded 13,200 visits to the NHS heartburn and reflux webpage – one every 13 minutes – last Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
The odd bout of heartburn following a heavy meal like Christmas dinner is nothing to worry about, but persistent symptoms should be checked, as prolonged heartburn, called GORD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease), can increase your risk of cancer of the oesophagus.
‘GORD is relatively common – affecting one in ten people. It’s more common with age and with risk factors such as obesity, stress, smoking, alcohol and asthma,’ says consultant gastroenterologist and interventional endoscopist Dr Rehan Haidry, from University College Hospital, London.