Many of us enjoy a can of fizzy drink during the week, either with a meal or as a midday pick-me-up.
However, experts have now cautioned that this could trigger two rather unpleasant health conditions affecting our stomach and digestive tract, with ‘uncomfortable’ symptoms that can be difficult to manage.
Dr Reshma Rakshit, a Doctify-rated consultant gastroenterologist, has shed light on the causes and symptoms of these health issues, identifying fizzy drinks as one of the triggers.
She explained how heartburn and acid reflux, which affect 1 in 4 UK adults, can be triggered by drinking fizzy beverages and late-night snacking.
Heartburn and acid reflux are two of the most common digestive problems – but they often occur interchangeably and have distinct differences.
Heartburn is an uncomfortable, burning sensation felt in the chest, typically after eating. This discomfort usually starts in the lower chest and can rise upwards, sometimes reaching the throat.
The sensation is often described as a painful or burning feeling that can be mistaken for a heart-related issue, though it’s related to digestion. Acid reflux, on the other hand, occurs when stomach acid or food rises back up into the oesophagus, reports Surrey Live.
This regurgitation can cause a sour taste in the mouth and discomfort in the chest or throat. It’s this movement of stomach contents back up into the gullet that can lead to heartburn.
Dr Rakshit clarified the workings of the digestive system, saying: “In a human being, the function of the gullet is to move food down into the stomach. In the normal stomach acid is produced, and this helps to digest our food. Now, if there are certain risk factors, this food, fluid and acid can move up into the gullet, and as the gullet is not used to an acidic environment, it creates symptoms such as heartburn”.
Symptoms could range from a chest burning sensation, a sore throat or a hoarse voice to a persistent cough, nausea or vomiting post meals.
She noted that these discomforts often get worse at night, particularly after consuming food late in the evening. Dr Rakshit warned against fizzy drinks as they may induce bloating, increasing the likelihood of stomach reflux.
As an alternative, she advised choosing non-carbonated beverages like still water to help alleviate such bloating.
