Heartburn
August 20, 2012 | 20,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Frauke Gehring
I am 48 years old and so far healthy. For some time now, I have been experiencing increased heartburn and belching. I have bought Omeprazole at the pharmacy a few times and have been managing quite well with it. I am very busy with work and actually have no time for a doctor's visit, especially since I currently do not have a primary care physician. However, I am still worried. Could there be something serious behind this? Should I rather see a doctor after all?
Hello,
The omeprazole from the pharmacy is intentionally only available in smaller packages, so that it is not taken for months without examination... But you don't need to fear anything "serious", for example, stomach cancer usually causes pain and bloating rather than heartburn.
Heartburn and acid reflux occur when the entrance of the stomach does not close properly (e.g. due to overweight), or when the stomach is too acidic (e.g. due to stress). Sometimes it helps to raise the head of the bed a few centimeters so that the acid cannot flow towards the esophagus. Also, avoid eating too much fatty, sour, spicy, or fried food, and be cautious with carbonated drinks.
If you still need to take Omep regularly, I would recommend getting an endoscopy. Many internists or gastroenterologists also perform this procedure if you approach them directly without going through a primary care physician. It may take a few weeks to schedule, but it should be done by this fall if the symptoms don't improve.
By the way, especially stressed individuals should get a check-up every 2 years to rule out conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. It's worth getting a recommendation for a primary care physician, even if you only see them every 2 years.
Best wishes,
Dr. Frauke Höllering, Specialist in Internal and General Medicine
