Latest news with #heartburn
Health Line
3 days ago
- Health
- Health Line
Ozempic Heartburn
Some people have reported on social media that they experience heartburn or acid reflux during Ozempic treatment. You can try some things to help prevent or lessen heartburn during Ozempic treatment. Is heartburn typical during Ozempic treatment? Ozempic's clinical studies didn't report heartburn. But the prescribing information notes the following mild side effects that often link to heartburn. gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (acid reflux): This can cause a burning feeling in your chest, neck, or throat. It can also cause a bitter or sour taste in the back of your mouth and regurgitation of food or liquid into your mouth. (Regurgitation involves 'bringing up' partially digested food or liquid.) burping or belching dyspepsia (indigestion): This side effect can cause burning or discomfort in your upper abdomen and other symptoms. gastritis (inflammation or irritation of your stomach lining): This side effect causes nausea, vomiting, and fullness in your upper abdomen. gas The studies reported these side effects with the use of 5-milligram (mg) and 1-mg doses of Ozempic. Except for gas, people experienced these side effects more commonly with the 5-mg dose. Since the drug became available, some people have reported having heartburn during Ozempic treatment. Although it can be mild, some people taking the drug reported intense heartburn. Some also reported that it affected their sleep and some everyday activities. How do you stop heartburn during Ozempic treatment? Some people find home remedies or practices helpful in stopping heartburn during Ozempic treatment. These include: drinking more water drinking a glass of water mixed with 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar avoiding lying down until the heartburn passes using a wedge pillow or elevating the head of your bed Numerous medications are also available over the counter or by prescription for heartburn. Some of these medications help prevent heartburn or acid reflux, and others treat it once it starts. These medications include: Antacids: Antacids neutralize your stomach acid, which may reduce or treat heartburn. Some brand-name antacid medications are: Alka-Seltzer Mylanta Pepto-Bismol Rolaids Tums Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs): PPIs work to reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces. Some examples are: esomeprazole (Nexium) pantoprazole (Protonix) omeprazole (Prilosec) Histamine-2 (H2) blockers: H2 blockers reduce the acid your stomach produces. Some H2 blockers are: nizatidine (Axid) famotidine (Pepcid, Pepcid AC) cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB) Your doctor may recommend a particular medication for your heartburn and acid reflux. They'll also recommend the best time to take it. How do you prevent heartburn during Ozempic treatment? You can do some things to help prevent or lessen heartburn during Ozempic treatment. These include: eating smaller meals eating slower avoiding eating meals and snacks 3 to 4 hours before bedtime avoiding lying down soon after meals considering stopping smoking, if you smoke limiting the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and aspirin considering avoiding or limiting your intake of alcohol reducing stress avoiding or limiting certain foods Foods to avoid or limit Certain foods can contribute to the amount of acid your stomach produces, which may cause heartburn. These foods are: certain beverages, such as carbonated drinks, tea, and coffee fatty, greasy, or fried foods fast foods spicy foods certain fruits and vegetables high in acid, such as tomatoes, pineapples, and oranges Avoiding or limiting these foods may help prevent or reduce the heartburn you might experience during Ozempic treatment.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Nurse, 30, had common weight loss jab side effect... in fact it was a sign of deadly cancer
An NHS nurse diagnosed with an aggressive form of stomach cancer at just 28, has revealed how heartburn—which was exacerbated by taking a weight loss jab—was her only symptom. Chloe, now 30, said she had suffered intermittent heartburn since the middle of 2022, about two years before she was diagnosed with the cancer in March last year. In a series of clips on TikTok Chloe said she initially assumed her heartburn was due to a poor diet, noting episodes seemed to be triggered by greasy food and drinking alcohol. However, she noticed her symptoms got far worse after she was prescribed a weight loss jab in November 2023. 'When I was taking that I noticed that the reflux had got a bit worse and I was getting a bit of pain in my sternum that was going through to my back,' she said. 'I had the first dose and my heartburn was horrific that week. 'It was almost this spasm sensation that I was getting.' She added that the pain was so bad she eventually went to A&E for help, and this was when she first suspected something was more seriously wrong with her stomach than simple heartburn. However, she added that: 'As soon as I stopped taking the injections that all went away.' Heartburn is a common side effect of weight loss jabs affecting one in 10 patients taking Mounjaro as well a tenth of those the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, semaglutide. It was only in January 2024 when Chole went for an endoscopy—where a flexible camera is inserted down the throat and into the stomach—ton investigate her persistent heartburn that medics found traces of something more serious. Images showed what medics initially thought was the remains of an ulcer—an open sore in the stomach—that had since started to heal. Samples taken at the time also confirmed she had a type of bacteria living in her stomach called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) a known cause of stomach ulcers and, as Chole would later learn, cancer of the organ. At a follow-up check a few weeks later medics grew increasingly concerned that this 'ulcer' hadn't fully disappeared despite Chole getting treatment, so samples were taken for testing. Three weeks later, the results revealed the devastating truth, the young woman had stomach cancer, a disease that kills over a fifth of patients within a decade. While 'blindsided' by this diagnosis, Chole detailed how even worse news was yet to come. The tests showed she had a particularly aggressive and rare form of the disease called signet ring cell adenocarcinoma. Medics also told Chloe that her cancer was most likely caused by the H. pylori infection. H. pylori—which infests the lining of the stomach and causes damage to tissue that can lead to cancer—is surprisingly common. An estimated two in five Britons have the bug. The vast majority—some eight or nine out of ten—won't know it as the bacteria normally causes no symptoms or only relatively mild problems like indigestion, bloating or nausea that can be easily dismissed. Studies suggest being infected with the bacteria increases the risk of developing stomach cancer six-fold although getting appropriate treatment like antibiotics dramatically reduces this. Data from the British charity Cancer Research UK (CRUK) suggests 41 per cent of the UK's 6,500 annual stomach cancer cases are caused by H. pylori, about 2,700 cases a year. Thankfully for Chole, further tests and scans indicated the cancer had been caught at a very early stage. However, due to its aggressive nature she had her entire stomach—as well as some connecting tissues—removed in a major surgery that followed months of chemotherapy. She has since undergone further chemotherapy in a bid to eliminate any microscopic remains of the cancer missed in the operation, which finished last November. While she will still need to undergo regular scans to ensure the cancer has not returned, Chloe said she was looking forward to the future, even as she grappled with no longer having a stomach. 'Overall I'm doing really well, getting my strength back. I'm training for a half-marathon in October this year,' she said. 'Obviously I've lost a lot of weight because I don't have a stomach so my eating is very different now, I have a lot of smaller portions.' Speaking now in a series of clips which have been viewed over 150,000 times, Chloe said she wanted to raise awareness about the dangers of unaddressed heartburn. 'If you have that (heartburn) it doesn't always mean you have cancer but it's always worth having it checked,' she said. She added she had no other classic symptoms of disease such as losing weight, fatigue, blood in stools, vomiting, or loss of appetite. 'If anyone has heartburn and it's not getting if you're should push your GP to do more investigations and see why,' she said. 'That's why stomach cancer is so hard to detect because heartburn is so common.' Heartburn is an extremely common ailment, affecting about one in four adults in the UK. Chloe's warning comes as the NHS plans to offer heartburn sufferers a new test in high street pharmacies that can detect a condition that dramatically increases the risk of developing oesophageal cancer. She's also not the only patient to have an interesting interaction between cancer symptoms and weight loss jabs. Last week MailOnline reported on a case of a 47-year-old man who revealed how medics missed the early warning signs he had colon cancer as they assumed his symptoms were from taking Mounjaro. About 18 Britons and 83 Americans are diagnosed with stomach cancer each day. The disease kills just over 4,200 patients in the UK each year, with the death toll rising to nearly 11,000 in the US. Only about one in six patients with stomach cancer (17 per cent) are expected to still be alive 10 years after their diagnosis. About one in 92 men and one in 170 women in the UK are estimated to develop stomach cancer in their lifetime. The main symptoms of stomach cancer include heartburn or acid reflux, having problems swallowing, feeling or being sick, indigestion and burping and feeling full very quickly when eating. These symptoms are common and usually caused by other conditions but patients who have had them for over three weeks should contact their GP for advice. Other symptoms include loss of appetite or losing weight without trying, stomach pain, a lump feeling at the top of the stomach and feeling very tired.
The Independent
10-07-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Simple but vital new cancer test to be trialled in pharmacies
Hundreds of people experiencing persistent heartburn or acid reflux will soon be offered a ' sponge on a string ' test in high-street pharmacies. NHS England is piloting a new way of preventing oesophageal cancer by identifying individuals with a condition called Barrett's oesophagus, which occurs when stomach acid damages the lining of the oesophagus or food pipe. Some cells may grow abnormally and then develop into oesophageal cancer. From early next year, around 1,500 people in London and the East Midlands will participate in these new "heartburn health checks" to test for Barrett's oesophagus. During the test, the patient swallows a small capsule attached to a string. The capsule dissolves in the stomach and leaves a small sponge about the size of a 1p coin. The sponge is then pulled out via the string by NHS staff after a few minutes, during which time it collects cells from the oesophageal lining for analysis in the lab. This test is already used in hospitals and community diagnostic centres to help reduce the need for invasive endoscopies in Barrett's patients. During the pilot, pharmacists will work to spot patients who are regularly using over-the-counter medicines to ease their heartburn but who have not sought help from their GP. The pilot will run for two years before potentially being rolled out more widely. Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national cancer director, said the 'new pilot brings a convenient test to where people shop, making it easier than ever for patients to check signs and symptoms that might be worrying them'. 'For the majority of people with persistent reflux, these quick and easy heartburn health checks will provide peace of mind that you aren't at increased risk of cancer, and for those who do find out they have Barrett's oesophagus, regular follow-up checks will be put in place so any further cell changes can be spotted early.' If pre-cancerous cells are found, treatment can be offered to remove the cells through endoscopy or a procedure known as radiofrequency ablation. Of almost 10,000 patients diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in the UK each year, 80 per cent are diagnosed at a late stage. Only one in five people survive a year, meaning early diagnosis is crucial. Eddie, aged 77 from Suffolk, says the test may have saved his life after years of persistent heartburn. He said: 'It used to wake me up at night, but I always thought it was just one of those things. 'To think that something as simple as swallowing a capsule could uncover a hidden risk is truly remarkable. 'The test was quick, straightforward, and completely changed how I think about my health. 'Knowing I have Barrett's oesophagus meant I was prioritised, my condition was monitored, and as a result, my dysplasia (cell changes) was caught early. Main symptoms of oesophageal cancer NHS 'I am now able to get targeted treatment to stop my condition progressing to cancer, rather than finding out when it's too late. 'This never would have been caught if it wasn't for capsule sponge testing. This test gave me peace of mind and access to early treatment and could mean the difference between life and death for so many others.' The NHS has partnered with Boots and diagnostics company Cyted Health for the pilot, alongside Heartburn Cancer UK. Public health minister Ashley Dalton said: 'Last week, as part of our 10-year health plan, we promised a neighbourhood health service – convenient care nearer to where people live. 'Today's announcement is a fantastic example of the life-saving potential of healthcare on your high street. 'Being able to spot the warning signs using a 10-minute test in a local pharmacy – before cancer has even taken hold – will be a game-changer. 'As part of our Plan for Change to tackle the biggest killers, this government is committed to back innovation and make our NHS fit for the future to drive up this country's cancer survival rates.'
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Say goodbye to heartburn for GOOD with 40% off Zegerid this Prime Day
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Ready to restock your medicine cabinets for less? Amazon Prime Day is well underway and the deals just keep coming. Though there is everything from vacuums to TVs currently marked down, it is the medication section of Amazon that has our attention. Zegerid OTC Say goodbye to heartburn this summer with the best-selling remedy that Amazon shoppers say 'Truly works!' Clinically proven, these pills stods acid reflex and heartburn in its tracks. Made with top-notch formulas, this affordable at-home solution uses Sodium Bicarbonate for effective absopriton. Restock your medicine cabinets for LESS during Prime. $13.78 (was $45) Shop Shopping for at-home medications can get pricey fast but during Prime Day (July 8-11) you can stock up for less. One of the biggest heartburn relievers online, Zegerid OTC, is especially worth adding to cart while it is a HUGE 69 percent off. Trust us, your medicine cabinet is going to better off with Zegerid OTC in it! The powerful (and popular) at home remedy for heartburn is one of Amazon's best-sellers with users continuously praising it, saying: 'It truly works!' Whether you are 25 or 55, acid reflux and the side effects that come along with it can sneak up on you, causing discomfort (take it from us!). When using Zegerid OTC, your body can take a beat with the unique formula that uses Sodium Bicarbonate to neutralize the attack fast. Each pill also contains an active Omeprazole component that is the leading prescription for anyone experiencing persistent or sporadic heartburn. By taking a single drug, you can experience 24-hour relief, and with the included directions, you can safely tailor your dosing schedule to meet the needs of your symptoms. Shoppers rave about the results of Zegerid OTC, with one saying: 'I've taken Omeprazole for years, but it seems to not be effective anymore. I tried this product and it's amazing! Works immediately and prevents my reflux symptoms. I love it!! It's worth the price.' If you are ready to finally get the relief you deserve, then add Zegerid OTC to your cart this Prime Day. The pill that shoppers say is 'extremely fast' won't be 69 percent off for long, so act fast!
The Guardian
09-07-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
NHS pharmacies to pilot ‘sponge on a string' test to spot cancer precursor
Hundreds of people in England are to be offered a 'sponge on a string' test to identify a precursor to one of the deadliest cancers in high-street pharmacies for the first time. Patients with persistent heartburn or acid reflux can take the 'game-changer' tablet-sized capsule that when washed down with a glass of water expands in the stomach. The device is then pulled out using an attached thread, allowing the cells it has gathered to be analysed to see whether someone has Barrett's oesophagus, which raises the risk of developing oesophageal cancer. Oesophageal cancer is on the increase and is closely associated with risk factors such as poor diet, smoking, alcohol consumption and having a hiatus hernia. Mimi McCord, the founder and chair of Heartburn Cancer UK, which is working with NHS England on the pilot scheme, said: 'Oesophageal cancer can be a brutal disease. It hides in plain sight and when it takes hold, it doesn't hang around before it kills. 'Catching it early, or when it's a pre-cancerous condition, is the best chance people have of survival. People who regularly self-medicate often fall below the radar of the GP system. 'Lives will be saved by more people being made aware of the signs and symptoms to look out for and having quick, simple and easily accessible tests in pharmacies.' The pilot is intended to help prevent more cases of oesophageal cancer by finding people with Barrett's. The condition occurs when stomach acid damages the lining of the oesophagus, or food pipe. Some cells may grow abnormally and develop into oesophageal cancer. About 1,500 people in London and the East Midlands will be offered the new 'heartburn health checks' to test for Barrett's oesophagus. The test is already used in hospitals and community diagnostic centres to help reduce the need for invasive endoscopies in Barrett's patients. Pharmacists will work to spot patients who regularly use over-the-counter medicines to ease their heartburn but who have not sought help from their GP. The NHS has worked with Boots and the diagnostics company Cyted Health for the pilot, alongside Heartburn Cancer UK. It will run for two years before potentially being rolled out more widely. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The health service's cancer director, Prof Peter Johnson, said: 'The NHS is catching more cancers earlier than ever before, and this new pilot brings a convenient test to where people shop, making it easier than ever for patients to check signs and symptoms that might be worrying them. 'For the majority of people with persistent reflux, these quick and easy heartburn health checks will provide peace of mind that you aren't at increased risk of cancer, and for those who do find out they have Barrett's oesophagus, regular follow-up checks will be put in place so any further cell changes can be spotted early.' If pre-cancerous cells are found, treatment can be offered to remove the cells through endoscopy or a procedure known as radiofrequency ablation. Of almost 10,000 patients diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in the UK each year, 80% are diagnosed at a late stage. Only one in five people survive, meaning early diagnosis is crucial. The public health minister, Ashley Dalton, said: 'Last week, as part of our 10-year health plan, we promised a neighbourhood health service – convenient care nearer to where people live. Today's announcement is a fantastic example of the life-saving potential of healthcare on your high street. 'Being able to spot the warning signs using a 10-minute test in a local pharmacy, before cancer has even taken hold, will be a game-changer.'
