A Brief Tour Discovering And Treating Heartburn

Posted by Mark Sheppard

August 21, 2008

Heartburn

Heartburn is a general ailment that strikes nearly all of us at one time or another. However, for some people, heartburn becomes a regular and painful occurrence that can get in the way of everyday life if it’s left untreated. The good news is that even if you suffer from bouts of this condition multiple times a week, there’s help available.

For some, it’s as modest as dietary or lifestyle changes and for others, help may be found over the counter at the neighborhood drugstore. Some sufferers may have to turn to their doctor for help, but doctors have plenty of solutions available for treating and reducing the painful symptoms when other cures haven’t worked. If you suspect that you are a frequent sufferer of this terrible condition, read on for what to look for and what to do about it.

Symptoms of Heartburn

You may be all too familiar with the comfortless symptoms of heartburn already. You know the burning feeling in your chest, which happens within hours after a meal and gets worse when you try to lie down. You may also experience a sour taste in your mouth and terrible swallowing if the acid backs up into your esophagus.

You may also have trouble swallowing or develop a continual cough as a result. Heartburn can keep you up at night and prevent you from enjoying many of your favorite activities, so it is important to learn to recognize the symptoms of heartburn so that you can treat them immediately and effectively.

Treatment for Heartburn

The first course of action in treating heartburn may be to avoid the particular foods that seem to bring it on. If you suffer from this condition a number of times a week, you may want to begin keeping a food journal that will help you to keep track of what you eat each day and when you experience symptoms. You can also try eating lesser meals and making sure that you allow at least two hours between your last meal of the day and bedtime.

If these changes don’t help to relieve your symptoms, you can choose for an over the counter drug that is used to treat heartburn. Antacids are the most common choice for occasional heartburn, but frequent bouts may need an H-2 receptor blocker like Tagamet or Pepcid or a proton pump inhibitor like Prilosec that will block acid production.

Serious heartburn may require a visit to the doctor for a prescription cure, but there are plenty of good choices here as well. Heartburn is dreadful, but there is help. Try the suggestions listed here or talk to your doctor today about the best remedy for you.

Heart Burn