Gaviscon Peppermint Chewable Tablets 48s

Gaviscon Peppermint Chewable Tablets 48s is used for the treatment of symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux such as acid regurgitation, heartburn and indigestion (related to reflux), for example, following meals or during pregnancy, and in patients with symptoms related to oesophagitis. They work in 2 ways: a combination of two antacids to neutralise excess stomach acid, and an alginate which forms a protective layer that floats on top of the stomach contents, keeping it away from the lining of the food pipe.

Sodium alginate is extracted from the cell walls of seaweed. It helps the stomach block rising acid, the root cause of the discomfort heartburn and indigestion sufferers know so well.

Symptoms of heartburn

• A burning sensation or discomfort in the centre of your chest/lower breastbone after eating. You may feel the burning pain rising up your foodpipe (the oesophagus) into your throat
• A sour tasting fluid in the mouth, this is called regurgitation
• Difficulty swallowing or finding it painful or uncomfortable to swallow
• Feeling sick

Why heartburn happens

Your stomach has a thick muscular ring to separate it from the bottom of your oesophagus. This is called the oesophageal sphincter and it acts like a one-way valve, making sure that whatever you eat stays in your stomach.

But, sometimes, this sphincter doesn’t work quite as well as it should, so your stomach contents flow the wrong way and leak back up into your oesophagus. This causes the heartburn symptoms you know so well. In most cases, these symptoms are due to stomach acids irritating the sensitive lining of your oesophagus. Another name for it is acid reflux.

There are many different reasons why this can happen and one of the most common is what you eat. So, if you want to help put a halt to your heartburn, it pays to know which foods are best avoided.

Which foods cause heartburn?

Some foods cause the oesophageal sphincter valve to relax and open, giving stomach acid the chance to escape and cause pain, or they act as heartburn triggers:

• Fatty foods – these also increase the length of time acids work in the stomach, raising the risk of acid reflux
• Spicy foods
• Coffee
• Alcohol
• Chocolate
• Tomatoes
• Citrus fruits
• Peppermint

Sometimes it’s not what you eat that’s the problem, but how you eat. Eating large meals or eating too quickly can also be heartburn triggers. And heartburn is not always food-related either. Stress and excess weight are also contributing factors, so losing weight and getting plenty of exercise can help. Even being pregnant can increase the chances of heartburn