Heartburn vs Indigestion: Don't Let Xmas Lunch Bite Back

“Around one in five Australians regularly have reflux or heartburn.” That’s not just the odd spicy‑food mishap—that’s millions of Aussies feeling the burn on a regular basis.

Now layer on Christmas overeating: prawns, ham, roast potatoes, trifle, pavlova, chocolate, bubbles, beer… plus an afternoon nap on the couch. It’s no wonder so many of us spend the Silly Season clutching our chest or upper belly wondering:

“Is this just heartburn? Is it indigestion? Or something more serious?”

In Australia, even official health sites sometimes use the words “heartburn”, “reflux” and “indigestion” interchangeably, which doesn’t help. But medically, they’re not quite the same—and understanding the difference can help you get faster relief, avoid unnecessary worry, and know when to call a doctor (or an ambulance).

As an Australian telehealth clinic, we talk to patients every week who are trying to untangle exactly this. Our doctors regularly help people manage reflux, review GORD treatment plans, renew reflux medication scripts, and decide when an in‑person check is needed instead of telehealth.

In this guide, we’ll break down—in plain English:

• Heartburn vs indigestion: what each one actually feels like
• Where GORD (gastro‑oesophageal reflux disease) fits into the picture
• Why Christmas overeating is the perfect storm for gut symptoms
• Evidence‑based heartburn relief and indigestion strategies you can use today
• When to worry, when to see your GP, and when to call 000
• How telehealth (including our team at NextClinic) can help you sort things out from your couch

By the end, you’ll have a simple mental checklist you can use the next time a festive feast “bites back”—and a clear idea of when it’s safe to watch another Christmas movie, and when you should be heading to urgent care instead.

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Heartburn vs Indigestion: Why the Words Get So Confusing

Part of the problem is that “indigestion” is a very loose, everyday term. Different people mean different things by it.

What is heartburn?

According to Healthdirect, heartburn is a burning pain or discomfort in your chest, often after eating, caused by acid from your stomach rising (refluxing) into your oesophagus (food pipe).

Typical heartburn:

• Feels like a burn or pressure behind the breastbone
• Can rise up towards your neck or throat
• Often gets worse when you lie down or bend over
• May be accompanied by a sour, bitter or acidic taste in your mouth (regurgitation)

Heartburn is a symptom—it’s not a disease by itself. It’s one way reflux shows up.

What is indigestion?

In contrast, organisations like the US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) describe indigestion (dyspepsia) as a cluster of upper‑digestive symptoms, such as:

• Discomfort or pain in the upper abdomen (just below the ribs)
• Feeling full very quickly when you start eating
• Feeling uncomfortably full long after a meal
• Bloating, nausea and belching

You might also get heartburn with indigestion—but you don’t have to. For some people, indigestion is more about bloat and discomfort than burn.

So what’s the catch?

In practice:

• Many Aussies use “indigestion” to mean “any upper gut upset”
• Some Australian resources even describe reflux/heartburn as “indigestion (heartburn and reflux)”
• Heartburn itself is often called “acid indigestion” in advertising

So you’ll hear phrases like “I’ve got indigestion in my chest” (more like heartburn) and “I’ve got indigestion in my stomach” (more like dyspepsia).

For this article:

• Heartburn = burning pain/discomfort in the chest or throat from acid reflux
• Indigestion = upper‑belly discomfort, fullness, bloating, nausea, with or without heartburn

And yes, you can absolutely have both at once—especially after Christmas lunch.

Where GORD Fits In (And Why It Matters)

You’ve probably heard of GORD (gastro‑oesophageal reflux disease). This is the long‑term, more troublesome end of the reflux spectrum.

NPS MedicineWise explains that:

• Around one in five Australians regularly have reflux or heartburn
• When reflux or heartburn is frequent (two or more times per week) or severe enough to affect your quality of life, it’s called GORD

Healthdirect describes GORD as acid from the stomach leaking into the oesophagus more than twice a week, which can lead to complications if untreated.

Common GORD symptoms

You might have GORD if you regularly experience:

• Frequent heartburn
• Regurgitation (food or acid coming up into the throat/mouth)
• Night‑time cough, wheeze or hoarseness
• A sensation of a “lump in the throat”
• Ongoing chest pain that’s been investigated and found not to be heart‑related

Some people with GORD also complain of indigestion‑type symptoms—upper‑abdominal discomfort, bloating and nausea.

Risk factors (a lot of them scream “Christmas”)

Healthdirect and NPS list several things that can make reflux or GORD more likely:

• Large meals, especially rich or fatty food
• Alcohol
• Coffee and some hot drinks
• Spicy or tomato‑based foods
• Being overweight, especially around the abdomen
• Smoking
• Advanced pregnancy
• Certain medicines (like NSAIDs)

Sound familiar? That’s Christmas lunch, Boxing Day leftovers and New Year’s Eve all rolled into one.

Heartburn vs Indigestion: How to Tell Them Apart

There’s no perfect home test, but paying attention to where you feel the discomfort and how it behaves can offer clues.

Heartburn symptoms (classic reflux)

Think burning and rising:

• Burning pain or discomfort behind the breastbone
• May radiate up into the neck, jaw or throat
• Often worse:
  • After large meals
  • When lying flat (like that post‑lunch nap)
  • When bending over to pick up presents or kids
• Sour or bitter taste in the mouth
• A feeling of fluid or food coming back up (regurgitation)

People often describe heartburn as “fire in my chest” or “acid coming up my throat”.

Indigestion symptoms (dyspepsia)

Think fullness and discomfort:

• Aching, gnawing or uncomfortable sensation in the upper abdomen (between breastbone and belly button)
• Feeling very full after only a small amount of food
• Feeling uncomfortably full for hours after a meal
• Bloating, burping and gassiness
• Nausea, sometimes with a tendency to vomit

These symptoms may be related to the way the stomach empties, stomach lining irritation, stress, certain medications or other underlying conditions.

You might say “my stomach feels like a brick” or “I’m so bloated I can’t do up my shorts”.

Overlap is common

• Heartburn is more about acid in the oesophagus
• Indigestion is more about discomfort in the stomach area

But you can absolutely have both: a burning chest and a bloated, uncomfortable upper belly—especially after Christmas overeating.

Why Christmas Lunch Is a Perfect Storm for Gut Symptoms

Let’s imagine a very Australian Christmas Day:

• Big late lunch with ham, prawns, roast potatoes, gravy, trifle, pavlova
• Cheese platter, mince pies and chocolates later on
• A few beers, sparkling wine or cocktails
• Tight Christmas outfit
• Collapsing on the couch or the hammock afterwards

This is, physiologically speaking, a reflux and indigestion trap.

Here’s why.

1. Large, rich meals stretch the stomach

Huge meals—especially those high in fat—distend your stomach. This increases pressure against the lower oesophageal sphincter (LES), the ring of muscle that normally keeps acid in your stomach. When that pressure gets too high, acid can more easily push up into your oesophagus, causing heartburn.

Fatty food also slows stomach emptying, so everything hangs around longer, increasing indigestion symptoms like fullness, bloating and nausea.

2. Alcohol relaxes the valve

Alcohol can relax the LES, making reflux more likely, and can irritate the oesophagus and stomach lining themselves.

Add carbonated drinks (soft drink, sparkling wine, beer) and you get more burping and gas, which can push acid upwards too.

3. Timing and posture matter

Both Healthdirect and NPS emphasise that reflux often worsens:

• After big meals
• When you lie down within 2–3 hours of eating
• When you bend or stoop after eating

Which is basically the recipe for a typical Christmas afternoon.

4. Stress and fatigue don’t help

The Silly Season can be emotionally and physically draining—family dynamics, money worries, end‑of‑year burnout. Stress and anxiety can ramp up gut sensitivity and muscle tension, making you more aware of every bubble, twinge and burn.

No wonder so many Aussies feel like Christmas lunch is “biting back”.

Red Flags: When It Might Be More Than Heartburn or Indigestion

Before we talk heartburn relief and indigestion remedies, a crucial caveat:

"Chest pain can be a sign of a heart attack."

Healthdirect is very clear: call triple zero (000) for an ambulance if:

• You have chest pain that:
  • is severe
  • lasts more than 10 minutes
  • or goes away and comes back
• Or chest discomfort plus:
  • shortness of breath
  • pain in your jaw, arm, back or neck
  • sweating, nausea, or feeling light‑headed

Don’t try to self‑diagnose “just reflux” in that situation—get urgent help.

You should also seek prompt medical care (GP, urgent care or ED) if you have:

• Difficulty swallowing or food getting stuck
• Repeated vomiting or vomiting blood
• Black, tar‑like stools or blood in your stool
• Unintentional weight loss
• Persistent or worsening symptoms over weeks
• Indigestion or heartburn that wakes you from sleep regularly despite treatment

These can be signs of more serious conditions like ulcers, severe GORD, bleeding or, rarely, cancer—and they deserve a proper in‑person assessment.

Telehealth (including us at NextClinic) is not the right option for emergencies. For severe chest pain or any of the red flags above, call 000 or go straight to the nearest emergency department.

Fast Heartburn Relief After a Big Meal

If your symptoms are mild, occasional, and clearly linked to overindulgence, there’s a lot you can try at home—especially around Christmas overeating.

1. Use gravity to your advantage

For simple heartburn relief:

• Stay upright for at least 2–3 hours after eating
• Avoid lying flat on the couch—prop yourself up on pillows or, better yet, sit in a chair
• Go for a gentle 10–15 minute walk to help digestion rather than crashing immediately

Staying upright and doing some light movement can help your stomach empty faster and make reflux less likely.

At night, raising the head of your bed or using a wedge pillow (not just extra pillows under your head) can reduce night‑time reflux.

2. Loosen the waistband

Tight belts, shapewear or skinny jeans can increase pressure on your stomach and push contents up towards the oesophagus.

After that big meal, loosen your belt, swap into comfy shorts or a flowy dress, and give your stomach some breathing room.

3. Watch what you drink next

If you’re already feeling some burn, it’s wise to pause or slow down on:

• Alcohol (especially sparkling wine, beer, spirits)
• Coffee
• Fizzy soft drinks

Sip water instead, or try a non‑citrus herbal tea. (Just remember very hot drinks can also bother some people.)

4. Over‑the‑counter antacids

For many people, occasional heartburn relief comes from simple antacids bought at the pharmacy (chewable tablets or liquids that neutralise acid). Healthdirect and NPS both note these can help mild, infrequent symptoms.

Important points:

• They’re short‑acting—good for quick relief, not long‑term control
• Always follow the packet instructions
• Ask the pharmacist if you’re pregnant, have kidney problems, or take other medications

5. Acid‑reducing medicines (used wisely)

If lifestyle tweaks and antacids aren’t enough, doctors sometimes recommend short courses of:

• H2 blockers (histamine‑2 receptor antagonists)
• PPIs (proton pump inhibitors), like omeprazole or esomeprazole

For GORD or persistent reflux, Australian guidelines suggest a 4–8 week daily PPI trial, then stepping down or stopping if symptoms settle, rather than staying on a high dose indefinitely.

Choosing Wisely and RACGP also caution against long‑term PPI use without regular attempts to reduce or cease, because of possible side effects with prolonged high‑dose use.

Key takeaways:

• Don’t use strong acid‑suppressing reflux medication as a free pass to keep overeating or drinking heavily
• Check in with your GP (or a telehealth doctor) if you’re:
  • using PPIs or H2 blockers most days
  • needing increasing doses
  • still getting symptoms despite medication

If you already have a diagnosed GORD treatment plan and simply need a repeat script for your usual medicine—and your regular GP is hard to reach over the holidays—our doctors at NextClinic can often help with online prescriptions where it’s clinically appropriate. You can learn more on our online prescriptions service page.

So What About Indigestion? Calming the “Brick in the Belly”

If your main complaint is upper‑belly discomfort, bloating, and feeling overly full, the strategies look slightly different—although there’s overlap.

1. Rethink your meal size and speed

For many people with indigestion symptoms, the how of eating matters as much as the what.

Try:

• Smaller portions more often instead of one mega‑meal
• Putting your fork down between bites and actually chewing (not inhaling) your food
• Taking at least 20–30 minutes to eat a main meal
• Pausing before going back for seconds—give your stomach time to send “I’m full” signals

At Christmas, this might look like:

• Taking a smaller first serve of everything
• Waiting 10–15 minutes before deciding if you really want more
• Enjoying leftovers the next day instead of squeezing everything into one sitting

2. Choose gentler foods (at least some of the time)

Common culprits for indigestion include:

• High‑fat, greasy or deep‑fried foods
• Very spicy dishes
• Rich sauces and gravies
• Large amounts of chocolate or peppermint
• Citrus and tomato‑heavy meals (for some people)

You don’t have to skip everything festive, but simple swaps help:

• Balance rich foods with plenty of salad and veg
• Choose grilled or roasted rather than deep‑fried
• Go easy on the second serve of creamy desserts
• Stop when you’re comfortably full, not stuffed

3. Check your stress levels

Stress and anxiety can amplify indigestion, even if what you ate was fairly sensible. Gut–brain interaction disorders (like functional dyspepsia) are a recognised phenomenon—your digestive system and nervous system talk to each other constantly.

Over Christmas, small resets can help:

• Step outside for a few deep breaths between courses
• Delegate tasks instead of doing all the cooking/hosting yourself
• Limit alcohol if you know it worsens both your mood and your gut

4. Medications for indigestion

For ongoing indigestion symptoms, doctors might suggest:

• Short‑term acid‑reducing medicines (H2 blockers or PPIs), similar to GORD treatment
• Occasionally prokinetic medicines that help the stomach empty faster, in certain conditions

But again, these should be guided by a GP, especially if:

• You’re over 50
• Symptoms are new or changing
• You have any red‑flag features (weight loss, vomiting, blood in stool, difficulty swallowing)

Our doctors at NextClinic can talk through indigestion symptoms via a telehealth consultation and advise whether lifestyle changes, medicines, or in‑person tests (like endoscopy) are likely to be needed. If it sounds like you need a gastroenterologist, we can also help with specialist referrals so you’re not waiting months just to get on the list.

Quick “Heartburn vs Indigestion” Gut Check

This isn’t a diagnostic tool, but it can help you describe your symptoms more clearly to your doctor:

• Mostly burning in the chest, rising towards the throat, especially after meals or lying down?

→ Sounds more like heartburn from reflux.

• Mostly upper‑belly discomfort, bloating, and feeling over‑full even after small meals?

→ Sounds more like indigestion/dyspepsia.

• *Both at once—burning in the chest and bloated, heavy stomach—especially after large, late meals with alcohol?*

→ Very common with Christmas overeating, and may point towards reflux plus indigestion (and possibly underlying GORD if it’s frequent).

Regardless of the label, if symptoms are:

• Frequent (most days or nights)
• Severe enough to affect sleep, work or social life
• Or associated with any red flags

…then it’s time to move beyond DIY remedies and talk to a doctor.

When Reflux Becomes GORD: Longer‑Term Treatment Options

If you’re getting heartburn or reflux symptoms more than twice a week, or your reflux is impacting your quality of life, you may be dealing with GORD rather than one‑off heartburn.

Effective GORD treatment usually combines lifestyle measures and medications, tailored to your situation.

Lifestyle foundations

Evidence‑based strategies include:

• Weight management if you’re overweight, especially around the abdomen
• Stopping smoking
• Cutting back on alcohol
• Avoiding or reducing your personal trigger foods (often:
  • fatty/fried foods
  • chocolate
  • spicy meals
  • coffee or strong tea
  • citrus and tomato sauces)
• Eating smaller, more frequent meals rather than huge ones
• Not eating within 2–3 hours of bedtime
• Raising the head of the bed for night‑time symptoms
• Avoiding heavy lifting or bending soon after a meal

None of these are as instantly gratifying as a tablet, but they’re the backbone of good GORD management—and especially relevant if Christmas overeating is your main trigger.

Reflux medication (used safely)

For persistent or severe GORD symptoms, PPIs are usually the first‑line medication in Australia. NPS and RACGP summarise the usual approach:

1. Trial a PPI once daily for 4–8 weeks
2. Review symptoms:
   • If improved, step down to a lower dose, take it less often, or stop and use it “as needed”
   • If not improved, check dose and timing, reconsider the diagnosis, and possibly arrange further tests
3. Avoid staying on high‑dose PPIs long term without review, unless you have a clear indication (like severe oesophagitis or Barrett’s oesophagus)

Some people may instead (or additionally) use:

• H2 blockers
• Alginate‑based products that physically help keep acid down

Very occasionally, when lifestyle measures and medicines fail or complications arise, anti‑reflux surgery (like fundoplication) may be recommended.

The bottom line: if you’re popping reflux medication daily just to survive ordinary meals—or you can’t get through Christmas without stacking extra doses—it’s time for a proper GORD assessment rather than relying on over‑the‑counter fixes.

How Telehealth (and NextClinic) Can Help Over the Holidays

The Silly Season in Australia is notorious for:

• Shorter GP clinic hours
• Surge in emergency presentations
• Closed or reduced‑hours practices between Christmas and New Year

That’s exactly when Christmas overeating and reflux flares are at their peak.

Telehealth can’t replace emergency care or endoscopy, but it can be incredibly helpful for non‑urgent, symptom‑based decisions and script management.

At NextClinic, our Australian‑registered doctors can often help you with:

• Telehealth consultations for:
  • New or worsening reflux and indigestion (to decide if a trial of treatment is reasonable, or if you need in‑person tests)
  • Reviewing your existing GORD treatment plan
  • Issuing medical certificates if reflux or indigestion has you off work or study
• Online prescriptions (e‑scripts) for:
  • Reflux medication and heartburn relief medicines you’re already safely using, when clinically appropriate
  • Other regular medicines you rely on, so you don’t run out over the break

You complete a short, clinically designed questionnaire, then one of our doctors calls you—usually within an hour—and, if it’s safe and appropriate, sends an eScript token straight to your phone via SMS. You can take that to any pharmacy in Australia that dispenses e‑scripts.

For more on staying medicine‑ready over the festive season (including antacids and reflux meds), you might like our blog “5 Meds You Must Stock Up On Before Christmas”. And if you’re travelling interstate and realise your reflux tablets are still on the kitchen bench, our post “Forgot Your Meds? How to Get Scripts While Traveling” walks you through your options step by step.

Again: if there’s any chance your symptoms could be heart‑related, severe, or associated with red flags, skip telehealth and call 000 or head to ED. Telehealth—including us—is an extra tool, not a replacement for emergency care.

A Gut‑Friendly Christmas Checklist

To wrap things up, here’s a simple plan to help Christmas lunch not bite back.

Before the big day

• Know your triggers. Think back to past episodes—was it the champagne, the extra serve of trifle, the tomatoey prawn cocktail sauce?
• Check your meds. If you have GORD or frequent reflux, make sure you’re not about to run out of your usual reflux medication. If your regular GP is hard to reach, consider organising an online repeat ahead of time.
• Talk to your doctor if symptoms have changed, worsened, or you’re relying on PPIs more than recommended.

During the feast

• Pace yourself. Smaller portions, chew slowly, chat between bites. Remember, there are leftovers.
• Balance your plate. Include salads and veg, not just meat and carbs.
• Alternate drinks. For every alcoholic drink, have some water.
• Dress comfortably. Maybe loosen that belt a notch before lunch.

After the meal

• Stay upright. Clear the table, do the dishes, go for a gentle stroll—just don’t flop flat immediately.
• Notice symptoms. If it’s mild burn or bloat that settles within a few hours, that’s typical post‑feast discomfort. If it’s severe, frequent, or worrying, take it seriously.
• Have a plan. If you’re out of town, know where the nearest urgent care or ED is—and remember that services like ours can help with non‑urgent telehealth advice or scripts if appropriate.

Bringing It All Together (And Your Challenge This Week)

We’ve covered a lot, so here are the key points to remember:

• Heartburn is that burning pain in your chest or throat caused by acid reflux.
• Indigestion (dyspepsia) is more about upper‑belly discomfort, fullness and bloating—and may or may not include heartburn.
• GORD is when reflux/heartburn is frequent or severe and needs proper, often ongoing, management.
• Christmas overeating—large, rich meals plus alcohol and lying down—is tailor‑made to trigger both heartburn and indigestion.
• Occasional mild symptoms can often be eased with lifestyle changes and occasional heartburn relief like antacids; persistent or severe symptoms deserve a medical review and considered GORD treatment.
• Red flags (severe or prolonged chest pain, difficulty swallowing, vomiting blood, black stools, weight loss) mean don’t wait—call 000 or seek urgent care.
• Telehealth services like ours at NextClinic can help with advice, online prescriptions and medical certificates when in‑person care isn’t immediately accessible—especially over the holidays.

Your challenge for this week:

Pick one gut‑friendly strategy from this article and actually try it. Maybe it’s:

• Eating a smaller first serve at Christmas lunch
• Staying upright for 2–3 hours after big meals
• Cutting back on late‑night snacks and drinks
• Booking a review of your reflux medication with a GP or via telehealth
• Starting a simple food‑and‑symptom diary to understand your triggers

Then, pay attention to how your body responds. Did your heartburn ease? Did indigestion symptoms improve?

If you’re reading this on our blog, we’d love to hear from you in the comments: Which strategy did you choose, and what happened? Your experience might help another Aussie enjoy their Christmas lunch—without the burn.

References

• Managing reflux and heartburn
• Indigestion (heartburn and reflux) | Better Health Channel
• Heartburn | healthdirect
• Indigestion (Dyspepsia) - NIDDK
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) | healthdirect
• GORD (reflux) - symptoms, treatments and causes | healthdirect
• 14 Ways to Prevent Heartburn and Acid Reflux
• Don’t stress out about overeating during the holidays – a dietitian explains how a day of indulgence won’t harm your overall health | The National Tribune
• RACGP - AJGP (Australian Journal of General Practice)
• Indigestion (Dyspepsia): Symptoms, Causes, Diet, and Treatments
• Functional Dyspepsia: Definition, Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, More
• Indigestion - Digestive Disorders - MSD Manual Consumer Version
• Online Doctors: Telehealth Consultations at NextClinic

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