Seek care urgently if you have any of these
- Difficulty swallowing, or food sticking
- Unintended weight loss
- Vomiting blood or black stool
- New symptoms starting after age 45
- Chest pain with sweating or breathlessness
- Symptoms not responding to treatment
If any of the above applies, do not wait for an appointment — go to the nearest emergency department.
Not sure how serious it is?
Answer three quick questions. We will open WhatsApp with your answers written out, so you do not have to explain twice.
When is it worst?
How long have you had it?
Anything else?
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What usually causes this
Reflux disease
Stomach acid rising into the oesophagus. Worse lying flat, after large or late meals.
H. pylori infection
Frequently coexists and changes the treatment entirely.
Medication effect
Painkillers and some blood pressure drugs worsen reflux.
Hiatus hernia
Part of the stomach sits above the diaphragm, allowing acid up more easily.
Cardiac pain mistaken for reflux
Important to consider — heart pain is sometimes described as heartburn.
What we would check
H. pylori TestEstablishes whether infection is driving the symptoms Abdominal UltrasoundExcludes gallbladder and other upper abdominal causes Doctor's AssessmentDistinguishes reflux from cardiac causesOther symptoms people ask about
This page is general health information, not a diagnosis. It cannot replace being examined. All visits to Mascot Healthcare are by appointment — Mon–Sat, 9AM–5PM, 52 Sholanke Street, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos.