Important Note: This article provides general health information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment of any health condition.
If you’ve noticed a burning feeling in your chest or throat after eating, it’s probably heartburn. It can feel uncomfortable and distracting, and sometimes it lingers long after the meal’s over.
The good news is that it’s usually easy to manage. Understanding what triggers it and how to soothe it at home can make a big difference to how you feel day to day.
In this article, we’ll cover what causes heartburn, why it happens, and a few simple drinks that can help relieve the discomfort.
When heartburn strikes, the first thing many of us reach for is something to drink. Here are a few options that may help ease that burning feeling, plus some tips to keep in mind.
Plain water is often your best option when you’re dealing with heartburn. When stomach acid moves up into your food pipe (oesophagus), small, steady sips of water may help soothe the area and clear the acid back into your stomach. This can bring quick, short-term relief.
It’s best to sip slowly rather than gulping large amounts, which can fill your stomach too quickly and make symptoms worse.
Some herbal teas have naturally calming effects on the digestive system and can be a gentle way to ease irritation from heartburn. They’re often most soothing when served warm rather than hot.
However, if you have high blood pressure or are pregnant, it’s best to skip teas that contain a lot of licorice root, as they can raise blood pressure in some people.
Ginger has long been used to settle the stomach. It contains natural compounds that may help calm irritation and reduce inflammation. To make ginger tea, steep a few slices of fresh ginger root in hot water for around five to 10 minutes before drinking.
Chamomile tea is known for its relaxing and soothing properties. It can help relax the muscles in your digestive tract and may ease mild inflammation, which could bring some relief from heartburn.
Keep in mind that not all herbal teas are helpful for heartburn. Peppermint tea, for example, can relax the muscle that keeps stomach acid where it belongs, which might make symptoms worse for some people.
Some people find relief from the following drinks, but it’s best to approach them with care. They don’t work for everyone and, in some cases, can make symptoms worse if used the wrong way.
Aloe vera is known for its soothing, anti-inflammatory qualities. Some people find that drinking aloe vera juice helps calm irritation in the oesophagus.
Always use purified or decolourised aloe vera juice with lower aloin levels, and check with a pharmacist or GP before trying it. Non-purified products can have laxative effects and may interact with certain medications.
For some, a small glass of milk brings temporary relief by coating the oesophagus and easing that burning feeling, but this effect isn’t long-lasting. The fat and calcium in milk can actually trigger your stomach to produce more acid once the initial comfort fades. If you want to try milk, go for skim milk rather than full-fat to reduce that risk.
Heartburn isn't just a random burning sensation; it's a symptom of something specific happening inside your body. Understanding the causes can help you prevent it.
Heartburn is the common term for acid reflux. It happens when stomach acid, which is very strong and designed to break down food, flows back up into your food pipe (the oesophagus). The oesophagus isn't built to handle this acid, so it gets irritated and inflamed, causing that burning feeling.
At the bottom of your oesophagus, there's a ring of muscle called the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES). Think of it like a one-way gate. Its job is to open to let food into your stomach and then close tightly to keep stomach contents from coming back up. Heartburn occurs when this muscle gate relaxes or weakens, allowing stomach acid to escape.
Many things can cause that muscle gate to relax or push stomach acid upwards. Here are some common culprits:
Certain foods and drinks are notorious for triggering heartburn. These include:
How you eat can also play a big role:
Your daily habits can influence heartburn frequency:
Some other situations can lead to heartburn:
Beyond what you drink, adopting certain lifestyle habits can significantly reduce your heartburn episodes:
While home remedies and lifestyle changes can often help manage heartburn, it's really important to know when to seek professional medical advice. You should see your doctor if:
If heartburn is affecting your day-to-day life, book an online appointment with one of our AHPRA registered Partner Doctors to talk through your symptoms. They can help you find the cause and recommend the right treatment plan for you.
No, occasional heartburn is very common and usually not serious. However, persistent or severe symptoms could indicate a more significant problem, like gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), which might need medical treatment.
Stress doesn't directly cause acid reflux, but it can definitely make your heartburn symptoms worse. When you're stressed, your body's pain perception can change, making you more aware of the burning sensation. Stress can also affect digestive processes.
The duration varies. Mild heartburn after a specific meal might last for a few minutes to a few hours. However, if you have frequent or prolonged heartburn, it could indicate a more chronic condition like GORD.
While some foods (like fatty, spicy, or acidic items) are common triggers for many people, no single food causes heartburn for absolutely everyone. It’s very individual, and what triggers heartburn in one person might not affect another. That's why identifying your own triggers is so important.
This article provides general health information based on trusted Australian guidelines and is intended for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always seek the advice of your general practitioner or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article.
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