If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding then you should consult your doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication, including antacids.

Calcium carbonate antacids may be suitable for you to take during pregnancy; however, you should only do this if your doctor or pharmacist advises that it’s safe to do so.

Acid reflux medications that contain calcium carbonate are available over the counter.

This means that you can buy them from a pharmacy without having to answer medical questions, but you should read the patient information leaflet that comes with the medication you’ve bought carefully before taking it.

If you’re ever unsure, you can ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Calcium carbonate tablets are usually suitable for children aged 12 or over.

However, these guidelines can differ from product to product, so make sure you read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medication carefully to be sure that it’s right for your child.

If you’re unsure whether calcium carbonate or any other medication is suitable for your child, speak to your doctor or pharmacist for advice first.

If you have diabetes and are suffering from heartburn, you should speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any remedies which contain calcium carbonate.

They may not be suitable for you, or you may need to take a different dosage to that suggested by the manufacturer.

A medical professional will help you to find a remedy that’s safe for you to take.

Heartburn is that uncomfortable feeling in your chest, that feels a bit like there’s something burning in there.

So, it’s a burning feeling behind your heart… Whoever named this condition was really to the point, huh?

Heartburn isn’t usually serious and lots of people suffer with it at some point in their life, so don’t worry if you suddenly feel the burn, chances are it will pass pretty quickly and you can get on with your day.

Heartburn is very common and chances are you’ll probably experience it at some point, even if there’s no obvious cause.

However, there are some things that can make you experience heartburn more often, including:

• Pregnancy
• Being overweight
• Eating certain foods or drinks, e.g. alcohol, chocolate, fatty foods, spicy foods, coffee
• Smoking
• Stress or anxiety
• Taking some medications

If you suffer from regular or severe heartburn and aren’t sure of the cause, speak to your doctor for advice.