Heartburn is a burning feeling behind the breastbone, often after eating or when lying down. It happens when stomach acid flows back up into the food pipe (oesophagus). Occasional heartburn is very common and usually easy to manage.

Common triggers

• Large or late meals
• Fatty, fried or spicy food, chocolate, mint, citrus and tomatoes
• Coffee, alcohol and fizzy drinks
• Smoking
• Being overweight, pregnancy, and tight clothing around the waist

Quick fixes

• Stay upright after eating. Don’t lie down for 2 to 3 hours after a meal.
• Raise the head of your bed by 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 inches) if heartburn hits at night.
• Eat smaller meals, and finish eating 3 hours before bed.
• Notice your own triggers and cut back on them.

Medicines compared

• Antacids (such as calcium carbonate): work within minutes by neutralising acid. Good for occasional heartburn. Relief is short.
• H2 blockers (such as famotidine 10 or 20 mg): reduce acid production. Take 15 to 60 minutes before a meal to prevent heartburn. They last several hours.
• Proton pump inhibitors (such as omeprazole 20 mg): the strongest acid reducers, for frequent heartburn (2 or more days a week). Over the counter, they’re taken once a day as a 14-day course, no more than 3 courses a year without seeing a doctor. They take 1 to 4 days to work fully.

Ask a pharmacist which suits you, especially if you take other medicines.

See a doctor if you have

• Heartburn most days, or for more than 3 weeks
• Trouble or pain swallowing, or food getting stuck
• Unexplained weight loss
• Vomiting blood, or black, tarry stools
• Heartburn and you’re over 55, or it’s new

Call emergency services for chest pain that spreads to your arm, neck or jaw, or comes with breathlessness or sweating. It may be a heart attack, not heartburn.

Also see: constipation relief and how to stop diarrhoea fast.

More in our Digestive Health guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.

This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label before using any medicine.

Vitamin C is an essential nutrient: your body can’t make or store much of it, so you need a steady supply from food or supplements. Most people get enough from a varied diet, but some benefit from topping up.

How much do you need?

• Women: 75 mg a day
• Men: 90 mg a day
• Pregnancy: 85 mg. Breastfeeding: 120 mg.
• Smokers: an extra 35 mg a day
• Upper limit: 2,000 mg a day for adults, from all sources

What vitamin C does

• Supports normal immune function
• Acts as an antioxidant
• Helps make collagen for healthy skin, gums, blood vessels and wound healing
• Helps your body absorb iron from plant foods

Best food sources

One orange gives about 70 mg. Other good sources are red and green peppers, kiwi fruit, strawberries, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, tomatoes and leafy greens. Cooking reduces vitamin C, so eat some fruit and vegetables raw.

Does vitamin C prevent colds?

For most people, no. Taking vitamin C regularly may slightly shorten colds, but starting it after a cold begins doesn’t seem to help much. People under heavy physical stress, such as marathon runners, may see more benefit.

Who might benefit from a supplement?

• People who eat few fruits and vegetables
• Smokers
• People with conditions that affect absorption

A 500 mg tablet once a day covers daily needs comfortably and stays well under the upper limit.

Cautions

• Over 2,000 mg a day can cause stomach cramps and diarrhoea.
• Ask a doctor first if you’ve had kidney stones, have kidney disease, or have iron overload (haemochromatosis).

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label before using any medicine.

Hair loss is common in women, and it can be upsetting. The good news is that many causes are treatable, and some resolve on their own. The first step is working out what kind of hair loss it is.

Common causes

• Female-pattern hair loss: gradual thinning over the top of the head and a widening parting, often running in families. It’s the most common cause and usually starts after 40, though it can begin earlier.
• Telogen effluvium: sudden, heavy shedding 2 to 3 months after a stressful event such as childbirth, surgery, illness, crash dieting or major stress. It usually recovers within 6 to 9 months.
• Iron deficiency and other nutritional gaps.
• Thyroid problems, both overactive and underactive.
• Hormonal conditions such as PCOS, or changes around menopause.
• Some medicines, and tight hairstyles that pull on the roots.

Does minoxidil work for women?

Yes. Minoxidil is the only over-the-counter treatment approved for female-pattern hair loss. Women can use the 2% solution twice a day (Rogaine 2%), or a 5% foam labelled for women once a day.

• Expect to wait 2 to 4 months to see results.
• Some extra shedding in the first weeks is normal.
• It works while you use it. Hair usually thins again within months of stopping.
• Possible side effects: scalp itching, and occasionally unwanted facial hair.

Compare strengths in our Rogaine 2% vs 5% guide.

See a doctor first if

• Hair loss is sudden, patchy, or you’re losing clumps
• Your scalp is itchy, red, scaly or painful
• You also have tiredness, weight changes, irregular periods or acne. A blood test can check iron, thyroid and hormones.
• You’re pregnant or breastfeeding. Don’t use minoxidil.

Everyday hair care tips

• Avoid tight ponytails, braids and extensions that pull on the roots.
• Use a wide-tooth comb on wet hair, and limit heat styling.
• Eat enough protein and iron-rich foods.

More in our Hair Loss guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.

This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label before using any medicine.

Jock itch, ringworm and athlete’s foot sound like three different problems, but they’re all caused by the same group of fungi, called dermatophytes. The name just changes with where the infection is on your body. The treatment is similar too.

How to tell them apart

• Ringworm (tinea corporis): a red, scaly, ring-shaped patch on the body, arms or legs, often clearer in the middle. Despite the name, no worm is involved.
• Jock itch (tinea cruris): an itchy red rash in the groin and inner thighs, with a sharp, raised edge. It usually spares the scrotum.
• Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis): itchy, peeling or cracked skin between the toes or on the soles.

The same fungus can spread from one area to another. Athlete’s foot often spreads to the groin on towels or underwear.

How to treat them

Over-the-counter antifungal creams work for most skin infections. Butenafine (Mentax) is one of the fastest options:

• Jock itch and ringworm: apply once a day for 2 weeks.
• Athlete’s foot: see our athlete’s foot guide.
• Spread the cream over the rash and about 2 cm (1 inch) of normal skin around it.
• Keep going for the full course, even if the rash fades sooner.

Avoid steroid creams on their own (like hydrocortisone). They can calm the redness but make a fungal infection spread and harder to treat.

Stop it spreading or coming back

• Keep the area clean and dry. Dry the groin and feet last, with a separate towel.
• Wear loose cotton underwear and change it daily.
• Put socks on before underwear, so fungus from your feet doesn’t reach the groin.
• Don’t share towels, clothes or sports gear.
• Pets can carry ringworm. If a pet has bald, scaly patches, take it to a vet.

When to see a doctor

• No improvement after 2 weeks of treatment
• Ringworm on the scalp or in a beard. These need tablets, not cream.
• The rash is spreading fast, very painful, oozing or blistered
• You have diabetes or a weakened immune system

More in our Skin and Fungal Infections guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.

This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label before using any medicine.

Children get hay fever, dust-mite and pet allergies too, and the itching, sneezing and poor sleep can affect school and mood. The good news: the same non-drowsy antihistamines adults use come in children’s versions. The key is choosing the right form and dose for your child’s age.

Non-drowsy antihistamines for children

• Cetirizine (Zyrtec): children 6 and over usually take 5 or 10 mg once a day. A children’s liquid is used for ages 2 to 5.
• Loratadine (Claritin): children 6 and over take 10 mg once a day. A children’s liquid or chewable is used for ages 2 to 5.
• Fexofenadine (Allegra): children 6 to 11 take 30 mg twice a day. Children’s formulas exist for younger ages.

Always use the product and measuring device made for children, and follow the label for your child’s age. Under 2 years old, don’t give any allergy medicine without a doctor’s advice.

Why to avoid older, sedating antihistamines

Older antihistamines such as diphenhydramine cause drowsiness, and in some children they cause the opposite: restlessness and agitation. Don’t use them to help a child sleep. The newer non-drowsy options above are generally preferred for allergies.

Tips that reduce symptoms

• Give the antihistamine at the same time each day during allergy season, ideally before symptoms peak.
• Wash your child’s hands and face after outdoor play, and change their clothes.
• Keep bedroom windows closed on high-pollen days.
• Wash bedding weekly in hot water to reduce dust mites.
• Keep pets out of your child’s bedroom if pet dander is a trigger.

When to see a doctor

• Wheezing, coughing at night, or shortness of breath. These can be signs of asthma.
• Symptoms that don’t improve with an antihistamine
• Frequent ear or sinus infections
• Your child is under 2
• To arrange allergy testing if you’re not sure what the trigger is

Call emergency services if a child has swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing, or becomes floppy or drowsy after eating a food or being stung.

For adults and children 6+

Our 10 mg tablets are for adults and children 6 and over: Zyrtec, Claritin and Alavert. Read our Zyrtec vs Claritin vs Allegra comparison.

More in our Allergies guide: all our articles and products on this topic in one place.

This article is for general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice from a doctor or pharmacist. Always read the label before using any medicine.