Acid indigestion is what happens when the contents of your stomach rise up into your esophagus, the tube that leads from your mouth down to your stomach, causing you to taste the food or acid at the back of your mouth, the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse states. This abnormal condition is also called gastroesophageal reflux, or GER, and happens when a ring of muscle at the bottom of your esophagus, the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES, opens spontaneously or does not close properly. The LES acts like a valve between the esophagus and the stomach.
Symptoms
The most common symptom reported by people suffering from GER is a burning-type pain in the lower part of the mid-chest area, just behind the breast bone and in the middle of the abdomen. This pain is also called heartburn. Some adults and most children below 12 years don't experience heartburn, but instead experience a dry cough, difficulty breathing or trouble swallowing.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease, called GERD for short, is a more serious form of GER. If you experience GER more than twice a week, you may have GERD, the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse warns.
Over the Counter Medications
You can get over-the-counter medicines to help control heartburn. The most common non-prescription medicines for this condition are antacids, H-2 receptor blockers and proton pump inhibitors, MayoClinic.com states. Antacids can provide quick relief by neutralizing stomach acid but by themselves can't heal your esophagus if it has become inflamed by stomach acid. What's more, using some antacids can result in diarrhea or constipation. H-2 receptor blockers reduce acid production and don't provide relief as quickly as antacids, but the relief lasts longer. Proton pump inhibitors block acid production and allow damaged esophagus tissue time to heal. In any case, consult your health-care provider before taking any sort of medication.
Prescription Medications
If your acid indigestion persists even after taking over the counter medication, your doctor may prescribe stronger medications, such as prescription-strength H-2 receptor blockers, prescription-strength proton pump inhibitors and medications designed to strengthen your LES, the Mayo Clinic states. The latter medicines are called prokinetic agents and work by helping your stomach empty faster and help tighten the valve between your stomach and your esophagus. Unfortunately, prokinetic agents also have side effects such as fatigue, depression, anxiety and other neurological problems, limiting their usefulness.
Avoiding Acid Indigestion
You can try to reduce the likelihood of getting GER by avoiding alcohol and foods that are spicy, fatty or acidic, as these are known to trigger heartburn, Medline Plus suggests. You can also try eating smaller meals and not eating too close to bedtime. Being overweight or obese contributes to GER and losing the excess weight will help reduce its occurrence.
