Do you experience heartburn - a burning pain in your lower chest area? If you do, then there’s a big chance that you are suffering from acid reflux.

What causes acid reflux? There are several reasons why acid reflux come all of a sudden. Within this guide, we will discuss these causes in detail to help you relieve pain and get back on track.

What’s In The Entrance Of Your Stomach?

There is a valve at the entrance of your stomach called the lower oesophagal sphincter (LES). The LES is a ring of muscle that shuts as soon as the food passes through it. However, there are times that the LES doesn’t close right away or completely. This causes some of your stomach acid to move up into your oesophagus, causing heartburn. Sometimes, the acid can even reach the back of your throat, leaving a bitter taste in your mouth.

Heartburn is normal and can happen every now and then. However, if you experience heartburn more than twice a week, then you may be suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), commonly known as acid reflux.

What Causes Acid Reflux All Of A Sudden?

Acid reflux is triggered by several factors. Here are some of the common causes of acid reflux:

1. Food

Laying down after a meal or eating too much can trigger acid reflux. It can also be caused by foods and beverages like:

• Carbonated beverages
• Lemons, oranges, and other citrus fruits
• Chocolate
• Fried or fatty foods
• Onion
• Garlic
• Spicy foods
• Tea
• Coffee
• Food with tomato (i.e. pizza, salsa, lasagna, spaghetti sauce, etc.)
• Alcohol

2. Smoking

Studies show that smoking may also contribute to acid reflux. Smoking damages mucus membranes in the throat, increasing acid secretion and impairing the production of saliva which helps neutralize acidity in the mouth and oesophagus. Smoking can also reduce LES function.

3. Hiatal Hernia

A hiatal hernia is one of the most common causes of acid reflux disease.

A hiatal hernia is a form of stomach abnormality where the top part of the stomach moves above the diaphragm. Aside from helping you breathe, the diaphragm also acts as a barrier between your stomach and your chest. It helps keep the acid in your stomach. However, if you have hiatal hernia, the diaphragm will have a hard time containing the acid.

4. Pregnancy

Several women who have not yet experienced GERD before suddenly experience acid reflux during pregnancy. But why? According to doctors, this is caused by the pressure from the growing fetus and increasing hormone levels. Usually, the symptoms are at its worst during the third trimester. Pregnancy-related acid reflux usually goes away after giving birth.

5. Other Factors

Aside from the reasons above, being overweight, snacking close to bedtime, and taking certain medicines like aspirin, ibuprofen, blood pressure treatments, and muscle relaxers can also trigger acid reflux.

The weather can affect acid reflux, too. Acid reflux symptoms worsen in winter because we tend to be less physically active. The cuddle weather also straps us to the sofa - making acid reflux more likely to occur, especially if you have just eaten your favourite comfort food.

Can Acid Reflux Be Caused By Stress?

Is acid reflux connected to stress or anxiety? GERD and anxiety may look completely unrelated to each other but studies suggest that there may be a link between the two.

A 2015 study found that the negative effect of acid reflux symptoms in your life increases with anxiety and stress. Experts believe that stress makes you more sensitive to chest pain and other symptoms of acid reflux disease.

How Do You Stop Acid Reflux?

The most common acid reflux treatment is Omeprazole. Omeprazole relieves the symptoms of acid reflux by reducing the amount of acid produced by your stomach. This widely used GERD treatment comes in capsules, tablets, or made to order liquids.

Omeprazole is usually taken once a day, first thing in the morning. You can take it without food because it doesn’t upset your stomach. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you more information about the dosage that’s right for you. You can also buy Omeprazole right here at Express Pharmacy.

These simple lifestyle changes can also help prevent acid reflux:

• Avoid eating large meals. Instead, eat small, frequent meals.
• If possible, avoid certain foods, beverages, and medications that could trigger acid reflux.
• When sleeping, make sure that your chest and head is above the level of your waist. This will prevent your stomach acid from moving up when you sleep. You can do this by raising one end of your bed with a pillow.

World No Tobacco Day occurs on the 31st of May every year. It sets out to raise awareness on the dangers that tobacco can have on your health.

If you have a smoking addiction, taking part in No Tobacco Day may seem like a huge challenge. This guide will help you to not only give up smoking for 24 hours - it will help you to stop smoking for good.

How To Stop Smoking

Just like any addiction, the road to quitting smoking is not always an easy one. It takes an immense amount of willpower to squash the symptoms of a nicotine addiction and cut out smoking for good.

While it’s not an easy journey, it’s not impossible. Around 1.3 million smokers successfully quit each year, proving that with the right tips and tricks, you can too!

1. Prescription Medication

Prescription medications provide one of the most effective solutions to help you stop smoking. The most popular medication, Champix, contains an active ingredient called varenicline which works in a variety of ways. It reduces your body’s reliance on nicotine, eliminating all of the nasty withdrawal symptoms associated with smoking. You can buy Champix right here at Express Pharmacy.

2. Go Cold Turkey

You’ve probably heard of the phrase ‘cold turkey’ before. It is a quitting method which involves no assistance - you just have to use a lot of willpower to never touch a cigarette again.

While the cold turkey method is possible, many people tend to find that it doesn’t have long-lasting effects. More times than not, smokers will end up straying back towards cigarettes after attempting to go cold turkey.

3. Nicotine Replacements

Nicotine replacements can come in many forms - patches and sprays are the most popular. As nicotine is the most addictive part of a cigarette, these nicotine replacements help to satisfy your cravings without having to inhale any nasty tobacco.

Nicotine replacements are pretty effective at reducing your cravings, but it’s important to remember that they can’t be a long-term solution. You will eventually need to stray away from these products so that you can quit the habit properly. They act as a good stepping stone.

Want More Information?

Looking for more resources to help you with your quitting journey? Check out the two guides below, which will provide you with further information.

• Why Should I Use Champix?
• Benefits of Quitting Smoking

If you’re struggling with a smoking addiction and need more assistance, visit your doctor or get in touch with us on 0208 123 0703.

Premature ejaculation is diagnosed when a man ejaculates in less than two minutes after sexual stimulation. While this can happen from time to time in any normal relationship, premature ejaculation itself tends to occur in sex over 75% of the time.

There are a handful of both psychological and physical causes of premature ejaculation, and also many tried and tested techniques which help to delay it. Read on to discover 4 proven ways to delay premature ejaculation.

How To Delay Premature Ejaculation

While the effects will be different on each individual, the following techniques are 4 of the most popular ways to gain some control over your premature ejaculation.

1. Pelvic Floor Exercises

Your pelvic floor muscles sit between your legs. It has been found that, through strengthening them, you can have more control over when you ejaculate.

Pelvic floor exercises are pretty simple and can be done at any point throughout the day. When done correctly, it should feel like you’re holding in wind - not merely squeezing your tummy muscles.

Simply squeeze the muscles in your pelvic area, lifting them up as you do so. From here, relax the muscles completely before repeating around 10 times. Do these exercises around 10 times a day and, eventually, you may start to notice you have more control over ejaculation.

2. The Squeeze Method

The squeeze method is a great technique for men who are open with their partners about premature ejaculation. It involves a level of trust and understanding.

When you feel like you are about to ejaculate during foreplay or intercourse, get your partner to apply a firm squeeze to the tip of your penis. They should hold this grip for around 15 seconds before letting go for a further 30 seconds.

This technique will calm your ejaculatory reflex, allowing you and your partner to have more time with each other before allowing ejaculation to happen.

3. Quitting Unhealthy Habits

There are many lifestyle factors which can increase your chances of premature ejaculation, including:

• Gaining weight
• Smoking
• Drinking

Through losing weight, quitting smoking and cutting down on alcohol consumption, you may find that you don’t ejaculate as prematurely. A healthy body is a happy body!

4. Medication

While premature ejaculation is hard to completely cure, one of the best ways to keep it under control is through taking tablets for premature ejaculation. The only approved premature ejaculation tablets in the UK are Priligy tablets. Priligy contains dapoxetine, which helps to raise your serotonin levels, allowing you to last for a longer duration in bed.

If you don’t wish to consume tablets, then EMLA cream is also available to treat premature ejaculation. EMLA is rubbed onto the skin of your penis, making it numb. This helps you to become less sensitive, lowering the chances of premature ejaculation.

When To See A Doctor

If problems with premature ejaculation persist and you are struggling to delay it with these methods, then it is worth heading to see your doctor. They will be able to talk through your lifestyle and any other underlying problems which may be causing the issue.

The majority of us have heard of the little blue pill named Viagra - but how many of us actually know how it works? This guide will take you through everything you need to know about using Viagra - an ideal starting point for those who are looking to purchase or use it.

What Is Viagra?

Viagra is a pill used to treat erectile dysfunction - also known as impotence. Viagra helps the muscles in your blood vessels to relax, increasing blood flow to the penis. It is this increased blood flow which then allows you to get, and maintain, an erection during sexual intercourse.

How Effective Is Viagra?

Viagra has a pretty high success rate, treating around 70% of erectile dysfunction cases. There are, however, some factors which may lower its effectiveness.

If you eat a large meal or consume high amounts of alcohol before taking Viagra, it may not be as effective as you hope.

In the unlikely event that Viagra has failed to work over 5 times, get in touch with your GP or seek an alternative treatment (which we will discuss later in this guide!).

How To Take Viagra

Viagra doesn’t have a ‘course’, meaning it only needs to be taken when needed.

Usually, it is recommended to take Viagra around 30 minutes before any form of sexual activity. If 30 minutes isn’t ideal, then you’re in luck, as it can remain effective for up to 4 hours.

You’ll be able to get an erection once you’ve taken Viagra - but only after sexual stimulation. There’s a common misconception that you’ll get an erection purely from the pill, but this is not the case.

How Long Does Viagra Take To Work?

It takes Viagra anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour to work.

What To Avoid When Taking Viagra

As mentioned earlier, eating or drinking too much before taking Viagra may decrease its effectiveness. Fatty foods, in particular, should be avoided in the lead up to taking Viagra.

It has also been found that grapefruit may interact with Viagra, bringing on some unappealing side effects. Even grapefruit juice should be avoided in this instance.

Side Effects of Viagra

In the majority of cases, Viagra doesn’t cause any side effects. However, like most medications, it has been known to trigger a few problems. Common side effects of Viagra include:

• Dizziness
• Nausea
• An upset stomach
• Muscle pain
• Flushing

While these are known as ‘common’ side effects, they’re still not pleasant. If any of these side effects persist, then it’s wise to stop taking Viagra and to seek an alternative treatment.

If the common side effects were bad enough, take a look at these more severe side effects (which require a trip to the doctors right away):

• An irregular heartbeat
• Swelling in your hands or feet
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling incredibly faint
• Hearing loss

Where Can You Buy Viagra?

It is possible to buy Viagra over the counter, but many men feel more comfortable purchasing it discreetly. This can be done safely through us here at Express Pharmacy, where you can buy Viagra at the click of a button and get it sent straight to your door in unbranded packaging.

Alternative Treatments To Viagra

Some men wish to seek alternative treatments to Viagra, whether it be due to ineffectiveness, the cost, or other personal reasons. Either way, there are many alternatives to Viagra - from therapy to different pills. You can view all of our ED treatments for more information.

Looking to get a better night’s sleep? We’re taught from a young age that a good night’s sleep fixes most problems, but as adulthood comes around, it becomes easier said than done to get a solid 8-hour kip.

How To Get A Better Night’s Sleep

Check out these 3 proven ways to get a better night’s sleep.

1. Change Your Bedroom’s Temperature

Think about how your sleep is affected during a particularly warm summer. The constant tossing and turning can sometimes go on for hours. This is no surprise, considering several studies have found that increased body temperature can decrease your quality of sleep.

It’s clear to see how the temperature can affect your quality of sleep, which is why it’s important to make sure your room is never too hot nor too cold. Studies have found that a temperature of 20°C seems to be the most suitable for a good night’s sleep, but you can play around with different temperatures to see what works for you.

2. Take Melatonin Supplements

Melatonin is a hormone that helps our brain to relax, signalling when it’s time to go to sleep. Those suffering from insomnia or jet lag tend to take melatonin supplements to help them fall asleep faster.

While supplements shouldn’t be your first port of call when struggling with sleep, it is advised to take melatonin supplements when the problem persists. Here at Express Pharmacy, you can buy Circadin 2mg to treat the symptoms of jet lag. Circadin contains melatonin; it will help to regulate your sleep-wake cycle.

3. Cut Out Liquids Before Bedtime

Although it might feel normal to have a glass of water before going to bed, health experts have proved that it probably isn’t the best idea. If your body feels the need to urinate during the night, then it won’t be able to rest, affecting both the quality of your sleep and your energy for the next day.

Be sure to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day and try to avoid drinking 2 hours before going to sleep.

The Health Benefits Of A Good Night’s Sleep

Asides from the obvious point of having more energy the next day, there are many health benefits which come from a good night’s sleep. Studies have shown that those who get less than 7 hours of sleep per night are at a far greater risk of developing problems like heart disease and diabetes.

Other health benefits of a good night’s sleep include:

• Increased sex drive
• Boosts immunity
• Helps with weight loss
• Increased fertility

If you have been struggling with lack of sleep for quite some time, get in touch with your GP to discuss further.