I really enjoy eating chicken, but I seem to have this recurring issue. After I have it, I get this pain near my heart and it feels like there's acid moving upwards. It even affects my sleep sometimes. Drinking water helps occasionally, but not always. The funny thing is, I don't drink alcohol or smoke, and I'm generally healthy. It mostly happens with chicken, which is my favorite, and I try to limit it to once a week, but even then the pain comes back. Spice seems to trigger it too. My friends eat everything, drink alcohol, and smoke but they don't have any problems. I'm always the one avoiding food during outings, yet this still happens. What could be going on, and how can I deal with it?

Dr Shubham Chauhan

General Practitioner

• MBBS
• 4+ Yrs

Consult Now

The symptoms you described, such as pain near the heart region, feeling like acid is moving upwards, and difficulty sleeping, are common with acid reflux. To help alleviate your symptoms, you can try taking an antacid medication like Gelusil or Digene after consuming trigger foods like chicken. These medications can help neutralize stomach acid and provide relief from heartburn and acid reflux symptoms. Additionally, you may benefit from taking a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) like Pantocid or Omez to reduce the production of stomach acid and prevent symptoms from occurring. It's important to also make lifestyle changes to manage acid reflux, such as avoiding trigger foods, eating smaller meals, not lying down immediately after eating, and maintaining a healthy weight. If your symptoms persist despite these measures, it's advisable to consult with a gastroenterologist for further evaluation and management.

Answered 04/07/2025