Could this be you?
Heartburn, a burning feeling in your chest, or something quieter, a lump in your throat that won't shift, a cough that never fully clears, a voice that sounds hoarse for no obvious reason. If you've been handed a repeat prescription and told to avoid spicy food, you're probably still looking for a proper explanation.​
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Reflux is rarely just about too much acid. Understanding what's actually driving it matters more than managing it indefinitely.
Symptoms this often includes:
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Heartburn or a burning sensation in your chest
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A persistent lump in the throat feeling
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Chronic throat clearing or a hoarse voice
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A cough that won't shift
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Excessive burping or regurgitation
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Discomfort after eating, or symptoms that worsen lying down
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Bloating or fullness connected to your upper digestion
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Bowel symptoms alongside your reflux, more connected than you might think
What might be driving your reflux
Rather than focusing on suppressing acid alone, I look at the underlying factors that may be contributing. These often include:
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Low stomach acid
Often overlooked, reflux is frequently linked to too little acid rather than too much
Bile flow and digestion
Impaired bile flow can contribute to both upper and lower digestive symptoms
Gut bacteria balance
Dysbiosis and SIBO can increase gas production and abdominal pressure, which may worsen reflux
Gut motility
Constipation in particular can increase abdominal pressure, which directly affects reflux
Nervous system regulation
Stress affects the whole digestive process, from stomach acid production to gut motility
Why your bowels and your reflux may be more connected than you think
Something that surprises a lot of my reflux clients: bowel symptoms and reflux symptoms are often linked, and many people experience both without realising the connection.​
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Your digestive system works as one long, connected system. When things aren't moving well further down, it can create problems higher up. Constipation can increase pressure within the abdomen, poor bile flow can affect both bowel changes and upper digestive symptoms, and gut bacteria imbalances or SIBO can increase gas production and abdominal pressure, all of which may worsen reflux.
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This is why I rarely look at reflux in isolation. Your bowel habits often give useful clues about what's happening throughout your digestion, and addressing both together tends to work better than treating each on its own.
My reflux training & accreditation
I'm Lisa, a Registered Nutritional Therapist and Accredited Reflux Practitioner, trained through Digestion with Confidence, a programme focused specifically on reflux and silent reflux. Reflux isn't a general add-on to my gut health work, it's an area I've sought out dedicated training in, because it's so often misunderstood and oversimplified.​
This service works alongside your existing medical care, not in place of it. If you haven't already had your reflux symptoms assessed by your GP, particularly if you have symptoms like difficulty swallowing, unexplained weight loss, or persistent vomiting, please do that first.
Support wherever you are
I work online, so wherever you're based in the UK, we can work together from home. I'm based in Faversham, Kent, and see clients by secure video call, so you don't need to be nearby to work with me.