By Dr Pranab Gyawali, Consultant Gastroenterologist
Updated and medically reviewed:
Acid reflux assessment and treatment in Dubai
Acid reflux can cause burning in the chest, an acid or bitter taste, food or fluid rising into the throat, and symptoms that are worse after meals or when lying down. Some people improve with treatment but find that the symptoms return when they stop it. Others continue to have reflux despite taking medication.
Dr Pranab Gyawali assesses patients with persistent or recurring acid reflux in Dubai. He reviews the symptom pattern, previous treatment, medicine timing, eating habits and any warning symptoms before deciding whether treatment should be adjusted or further tests are appropriate. He has more than 25 years of gastroenterology experience in London and Dubai, and assessment takes place in a JCI accredited facility.
His assessment is informed by the American Gastroenterological Association's personalised approach to reflux and UK NICE guidance. When reflux testing is needed, results are interpreted using the Lyon Consensus 2.0.
Please bring a list of your current medicines and any previous gastroscopy, scan or test reports if available.
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Quick answers for Dubai patients with acid reflux
Which doctor should I see for acid reflux in Dubai?
A consultant gastroenterologist can assess persistent or recurring acid reflux, heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD. Specialist review is particularly helpful when symptoms keep returning, disturb sleep, continue despite treatment or make it difficult to eat normally.
When should I worry about acid reflux?
Difficulty swallowing, food sticking, unexplained weight loss, vomiting blood or black stools should be assessed promptly.
Chest pain with shortness of breath, sweating, or pain spreading to the arm or jaw requires urgent medical attention because it may not be reflux.
What happens at an acid reflux appointment in Dubai?
Dr Pranab will review when the symptoms occur, what makes them better or worse, what medication you have tried and whether another condition could be causing similar symptoms. He will then explain whether treatment can be adjusted directly or whether a test would add useful information.
Do I need an endoscopy for acid reflux?
Not routinely. Gastroscopy, which is also called an upper endoscopy, may be recommended when there is difficulty swallowing, bleeding, weight loss, persistent symptoms, a clinical concern or a need to look for inflammation, narrowing or Barrett's oesophagus.
Why is my acid reflux not going away even with medication?
The medicine may need to be reviewed for timing, dose and duration. Persistent symptoms can also have another explanation, or may involve reflux that cannot be assessed from symptoms alone. The next step is a structured review rather than simply increasing treatment without checking the pattern.
What tests are used for acid reflux?
Many patients do not need a test. Depending on the symptoms, Dr Pranab may recommend gastroscopy, pH impedance monitoring or oesophageal manometry. Each test answers a different question and is selected only when it is likely to change the plan.
Can acid reflux be cured?
Many people achieve good long term control with the right combination of meal timing, weight management where relevant, treatment and selective investigation. Some patients need only a short course of treatment, while others need a longer term plan. It is more accurate to discuss control and an individual treatment plan than promise a cure for every patient.
Acid reflux treatment explained
This short video explains the main approaches to acid reflux treatment, including meal timing, medication and when further assessment may be useful.
What is acid reflux?
Acid reflux happens when stomach contents move back into the oesophagus, the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach. This can cause heartburn, a sour taste or the feeling of fluid rising into the chest or throat.
Occasional reflux after a large or late meal is common. When symptoms become frequent, troublesome or cause complications, the condition may be described as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. In UK guidance, the same condition is often called gastro oesophageal reflux disease or GORD.
A short animation explaining heartburn
The animation shows how stomach contents can move upwards when the natural barrier between the stomach and oesophagus does not prevent reflux effectively.
Why acid reflux is so common in Dubai
In Dubai, some of the recurring patterns Dr Pranab hears from patients include eating late after work, lying down soon after dinner, frequent coffee, heavier restaurant or takeaway meals, smoking or shisha, and weight gain around the abdomen.
These factors do not affect everyone in the same way. The aim is to identify which patterns are relevant to the individual patient rather than impose a long list of food restrictions.
What helps acid reflux?
Treatment depends on how often symptoms occur, whether there are warning symptoms, what has already been tried and whether reflux has been confirmed.
Meal timing and everyday changes
Useful changes may include leaving about three hours between the evening meal and lying down, reducing large or high fat meals late at night, remaining upright after eating, addressing weight gain where relevant, and stopping smoking or shisha.
Coffee, spice and other foods do not need to be removed automatically. It is usually more helpful to identify a consistent personal trigger than follow a highly restrictive reflux diet.
Acid reducing treatment
Proton pump inhibitors are effective for many patients when the medicine, dose and timing are appropriate. Alginates, antacids or an H2 receptor blocker may also have a role in selected situations. The safest plan depends on the symptoms, medical history and other medicines being taken.
Vonoprazan is a newer acid suppressing medicine that may be considered for selected patients. It is not necessary or appropriate for everyone, and it should be considered as part of a clinical treatment plan rather than as an automatic replacement for established treatment.
Do not stop or change prescribed reflux medicine without discussing it with the prescribing clinician.
What if acid reflux keeps coming back?
Symptoms can return when treatment stops, when meal timing or other triggers remain important, or when a hiatus hernia contributes to reflux. Sometimes the medicine has not been taken at the most effective time.
Persistent burning or throat symptoms are not always caused by continuing acid reflux. Reflux hypersensitivity, functional heartburn, an oesophageal motility problem or another condition can produce similar symptoms. This is why further review can be more useful than repeatedly changing medication without confirming what is happening.
When might further tests help?
Gastroscopy
Gastroscopy examines the oesophagus, stomach and first part of the small bowel. It may be recommended when there are warning symptoms, persistent problems or a need to look for inflammation, narrowing, a hiatus hernia or Barrett's oesophagus.
pH impedance monitoring
Oesophageal pH impedance monitoring measures reflux events and examines whether they are associated with symptoms. It can be useful when the diagnosis remains uncertain or when symptoms continue despite treatment.
Oesophageal manometry
Oesophageal manometry measures how the oesophagus contracts and how the muscles involved in swallowing function. It is used selectively, particularly when swallowing symptoms or a motility problem are being considered, and before some reflux procedures.
Is surgery needed for acid reflux?
Most patients do not need surgery. An antireflux procedure may be considered for carefully selected patients with objectively confirmed reflux, particularly when a significant hiatus hernia is present or appropriate medical treatment has not provided satisfactory control. Testing is needed before deciding whether this is suitable.
Related guidance
Request an acid reflux assessment in Dubai
If acid reflux keeps returning, affects your sleep or continues despite treatment, request an assessment using the form below or contact the Admin Team on WhatsApp.