Nexium Control Heartburn Factsheet
Date of preparation: 16th February 2015
For UK Consumer journalists
NEXIUM CONTROL® – HEARTBURN FACT SHEET
What is heartburn?
Heartburn is caused by stomach acid rising up into the food pipe (oesophagus), touching its
unprotected lining, resulting in pain and discomfort.1
What are the symptoms of heartburn?
Everyone experiences it differently but the most common symptom is burning pain and discomfort
just under the breastbone. Some people experience an unpleasant taste or fluid at the back of the
throat. Other symptoms can include bad breath and chest pain that can disturb or prevent sleep.
What is frequent heartburn?
Frequent heartburn is heartburn that occurs twice a week or more.2 It can have a significant impact
on quality of life with many sufferers experiencing:
- A need to limit certain food and drink choices
- 3 out of 4 frequent heartburn sufferers experience interference with their sleep3
- Tiredness during the day
- Anxiety over the frequent pain of heartburn
- General feeling of being unwell or under the weather
One in three UK adults experience heartburn and 1 in 6 experience frequent heartburn (occurring
twice a week or more).4
What causes heartburn?
There are a wide range of triggers and they are different for everyone. Common causes can include:
 Food - certain foods can cause heartburn, with spicy, acidic, rich and fatty foods being typical
culprits. Sometimes eating a large meal - or eating late at night - can bring on heartburn or make
it worse5
 Drink - fizzy drinks, coffee and alcohol can trigger heartburn
 Tobacco - smoking cigarettes weakens the valve between the stomach and oesophagus, causing
acid to leak upwards and resulting in the production of more acid5
 Being overweight - carrying extra weight can put pressure on the oesophageal valve and on the
stomach, allowing acid to rise up into the oesophagus1
 Stress - anxiety and stress put extra strain on the body making it more susceptible to heartburn
How can heartburn be avoided?
Helen Boardman, a Pharmacist and lecturer in Pharmacy Practice at Nottingham University, provides
ten simple steps that can be taken to reduce the pain and discomfort of heartburn.
1. Steer clear of heartburn triggers
Triggers vary from person to person but common triggers include citrus drinks, high-fat foods,
onions and chocolate. Cutting down on alcohol, coffee and fizzy drinks can also help.
2. Wait for two to three hours after you eat before going to bed / lying down
This gives your stomach a chance to process your meal and move it through your digestive
system. Your stomach will then be empty and less likely to reflux when you lie down. Eating a
smaller and lighter dinner is also a good idea.
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Nexium Control Heartburn Factsheet
3. Slow down at mealtimes
Eating too much, too quickly, can increase heartburn so take your time eating and enjoy
mealtimes. Feeling stressed or rushed when you eat can also cause the stomach to produce
more stomach acids.
4. Know your triggers
Using a diary to keep track of when heartburn hits can help you understand what is aggravating
your heartburn symptoms.
5. Quit smoking
Cigarettes can make heartburn even more painful. Not only can cigarette smoke irritate your
throat, it also relaxes the oesophageal muscles that keep stomach acid where it belongs.
6. Get moving
Taking regular exercise can often help (although certain abdominal exercises like stomach
crunches can push acid out of the stomach, causing heartburn). It’s best to wait at least two
hours after a meal before exercising.
7. Control your portions
Eating too much can aggravate heartburn so opt for smaller portions where possible.
8. Watch your weight
If you’re overweight, losing excess pounds can help relieve your symptoms.
9. Sleep with your upper body elevated
Lying down can enable the entry of acid into the oesophagus so many people find their
heartburn is worse at night. Try raising the head of your bed approximately 15 cm (6 inches)
with some books or blocks. You can also try a wedge pillow.
10. Try a PPI medicine
There are a broad range of OTC treatment options available. Antacids and alginates offer
temporary relief from symptoms. If you are a frequent heartburn sufferer and want more
sustained relief, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) may help. It targets heartburn at its source by
blocking acid production in the stomach and so can provide relief of symptoms through the day
and night.
Fast facts
 1 in 6 people in the UK experience frequent heartburn (twice a week or more)4
 Frequent heartburn affects men and women equally.1
 Heartburn can be a debilitating condition having a significant impact on a person’s quality of life,
limiting a person’s food and drink choices and causing disruption to sleep, anxiety over the
frequent pain of heartburn and a general feeling of being unwell.
 With just one Nexium Control® a day, 8 out of 10 frequent sufferers experienced meaningful
improvement in their heartburn symptoms within one week and 4 out of 5 nights were
heartburn free6
Nexium Control® is available in packs of 7’s and 14’s at a RRP of £6.99 and £11.99 respectively. It is
available in supermarkets and pharmacies nationwide. If symptoms persist or worsen after 14-days
treatment, people should see a GP for further advice.
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Nexium Control Heartburn Factsheet
Nexium Control® 20mg gastro-resistant tablets for the short-term treatment of reflux symptoms
(e.g. heartburn and acid regurgitation) in adults. Active ingredient: Esomeprazole. Always read the
leaflet.
ENDS
References
1
NHS Choices. Symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Introduction. www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Gastroesophagealreflux-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx Accessed February 2015
2 Fennerty MB, Finke KB, Kushner PR, et al. Short- and long-term management of heartburn and other acid-related
disorders: development of an algorithm for primary care providers. J Fam Pract. 2009;58(7 suppl):S1-S12.
3 Farup C at al. Arch Intern Med. 2001; 161:45-52.
4 Data on file. Forbes Consulting Group Usage and Attitude Study 2013.
5
Naliboff et al. Psychosom Med. 2004 May-Jun;66(3):426-34 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15184707
6 Nexium Control Summary of Product Characteristics
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