Severe Heartburn: Prevention & Treatment
Preventing and Treating Severe Heartburn
If you experience severe heartburn, there are treatment options – and there are also ways to prevent a flare-up of heartburn from occurring. Many folks find that their lifestyle choices have a lot to do with heartburn and the severity of their heartburn. You can help your heartburn right away (in most instances) by:
- Losing weight
- Avoiding big meals
- Learn to avoid foods that increase severe heartburn symptoms
- Avoid alcohol, which relaxes the esophageal sphincter
- Avoid lying down after meals
- Follow the treatment plan recommended by your doctor
Medications for Treating Severe Heartburn
There are many good medications on the market that will address the causes of heartburn and treat its symptoms. While antacids can provide relief (Tums, Rolaids, etc.) your doctor may prescribe one of two different types of drugs that treat severe heartburn, H2 blockers and proton-pump inhibitors.
H2 blockers have been around for decades and are useful to decrease the flow of stomach acid, which in turn helps to heal irritation of esophagus. Proton pump inhibitors may be required when the most severe heartburn symptoms arise, or when GERD has progressed to the point where a patient’s quality of life is greatly diminished. Proton pump inhibitors are more effective than H2 blockers in causing a reduction of acid flow and also promote healing of the esophageal lining.
