Ask the Doc - and a common query is all to do with indigestion
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Q. MY husband suffers with bad indigestion. Is there anything he can do to try to help ease the symptoms?
A. For most mild cases of indigestion, treatment from your GP is not needed and making certain changes to your diet and lifestyle can help to control your symptoms.
Even if you are taking treatment for indigestion, making these changes may help to ease your symptoms and keep them from recurring.
Your husband can also try to avoid any food and drink that makes his indigestion symptoms worse.
For example, your husband may find that his indigestion is made worse by certain triggers such as fruit juice or chocolate.
Eating less rich, spicy, and fatty foods is advisable.
Your husband should also avoid drinking alcohol if it is making his indigestion symptoms worse.
If your husband tends to experience indigestion symptoms at night, he should avoid eating for three to four hours before he goes to bed.
Going to bed with a full stomach means that there is an increased risk that acid in the stomach will be forced up into your oesophagus (gullet) while you are lying down. When your husband goes to bed, he could try using a couple of pillows to prop his head and shoulders up, or raise the head of the bed by a few inches by putting something underneath the mattress.
The slight slope that is created should help to prevent stomach acid moving up into the oesophagus while asleep.
If symptoms persist despite all of the self-care above then you should contact your pharmacist or GP who will advise you if anything else is required.
Your husband can also visit a pharmacist to discuss over the counter measures to ease symptoms.
More information and advice can also be found online at www.nhsinform.scot
