Heartburn and indigestion are often grouped together, but how are they different and why are they so painful?
Heartburn
Heartburn is the burning and uncomfortable sensation that is caused by your stomach acid rising into your oesophagus1.
The burning and uncomfortable feeling of heartburn generally starts around your chest and can rise into your throat and neck1.
It affects up to 25 percent of adults and some people find that it usually happens after they’ve eaten specific foods or a large meal1.
While every person is different, many people get heartburn from2:
- Coffee or alcohol
- Chocolate
- Carbonated drinks
- Fatty or spicy foods
Indigestion
Often confused for heartburn is indigestion. Indigestion is an umbrella term that’s used to describe discomfort in your upper abdomen after eating.
It can includes symptoms like3:
- Discomfort
- Nausea
- Burping
- Getting full quickly
- Pain in your upper abdomen
Indigestion can be triggered by smoking, drinking too much alcohol or carbonated drinks, feeling stressed or eating too fast or too much4.
How you can treat both
Luckily, there are solutions to treat both heartburn and indigestion.
Mild and occasional heartburn can usually be managed with lifestyle changes.
You could also consider eating smaller meals throughout the day rather than three large ones1, or avoid exercising too soon after eating2.
To improve your symptoms for indigestion, review your diet and you may find that avoiding foods that trigger acid indigestion may help, such as coffee or carbonated drinks, alcohol, acidic foods or meals that are fatty, greasy or spicy1.
If these changes don’t help or the triggers can’t be avoided, Zantac, which can be taken without a prescription, can help.
Zantac Double Strength 300mg tablets provides 24 hours of active relief from both heartburn and indigestion with just one tablet.
The 14 pack of double strength tablets are also easy to swallow and begin to work in as little as 30 minutes by controlling the production of your stomach acid for relief.
If you’re sick of dealing with heartburn and indigestion, visit your local Blooms The Chemist team for a chat on how you can find the relief you need today.
Always read and follow the directions for use. Always speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medications to make sure they are right for you.
This is a sponsored article in partnership with Zantac. You can find more of their products here.
Recommended for you
References:
1Gastroenterological Society of Australia, Reflux Fact Sheet, accessed 16 January 2025
2Healthdirect, Heartburn Fact Sheet, accessed 16 January 2025
3Fujiwara Y, Arakawa T. Overlap in patients with dyspepsia/functional dyspepsia. J Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2014;20(4):447-457. doi:10.5056/jnm14080
4National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Services, Indigestion (dyspepsia), accessed 16 January 2025