7 Heartburn Home Remedies and When to See a Doctor

More than 60 million Americans experience heartburn at least once a month, and just about everyone will experience it at some point in their lives. For some people, heartburn symptoms can become so frequent or severe that they need to see a doctor to be treated. You should make an appointment to see a doctor if your heartburn occurs more than twice a week.

Heartburn occurs when stomach acid backs up into your esophagus, causing an uncomfortable burning sensation. Heartburn can be triggered by certain foods, some medications (like painkillers, sedatives and antidepressants) and even alcohol. But it’s more common in certain people, including:

• Pregnant women
• People who are overweight
• People who smoke
• The elderly
• Someone with a hiatal hernia

Here are 7 Home Remedies You Can Try to Relieve and Prevent Heartburn:

1. Watch what you eat. Paying attention to what you eat can decrease your chances of experiencing heartburn. Avoid trigger foods such as alcohol, coffee, chocolate, spicy foods, fatty foods and acidic foods like tomatoes and citrus fruits.
2. Watch when you eat. Eat several smaller meals throughout the day rather than three larger meals to avoid overeating in one sitting. Refrain from eating a few hours before bedtime, and avoid lying down two to three hours after a meal.
3. Take acid blockers. Take acid blockers. Acid blockers help decrease the production of stomach acid and can provide short-term relief for your heartburn symptoms. You can find an H2 blocker such as Pepcid and Zantac or a Proton pump inhibitor such as Prilosec, Nexium and Prevacid over the counter, although your doctor can also prescribe one. Keep in mind, however, that like antacids, acid blockers may cause side effects like headaches, insomnia, constipation and diarrhea. Talk to your doctor if your symptoms persist after taking these medications for two weeks.
4. Quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke. The tobacco in cigarettes may stimulate stomach acid production, so you can help prevent heartburn by not smoking. Also, try to avoid inhaling secondhand smoke, which can also bring on heartburn symptoms.
5. Lose weight. Carrying around excess body weight, particularly around your waist, puts increased pressure on your abdomen, making you more prone to experiencing heartburn. Try to maintain a healthy weight by eating a well-balanced diet and avoiding heartburn trigger foods.
6. Wear loose-fitting clothing. Wearing tight clothing or a tight belt around your waist can squeeze your stomach and cause stomach acid to push up into your esophagus, so wear loose clothing to decrease pressure on your stomach. Plus, you’ll feel more comfortable.
7. Sleep on an angle. Raising the head of your bed by 6 to 8 inches can be beneficial in preventing heartburn while you sleep. Using multiple pillows won’t help, so use a wedge pillow or put blocks under your bedposts.

When to See a Doctor About Heartburn

Heartburn that becomes chronic is what’s known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The remedies above can help relieve or prevent occasional heartburn, but GERD is a serious condition that requires medical attention to treat effectively. Make an appointment to see a gastroenterologist if you experience any of the following:

• Heartburn that occurs more than twice per week
• Heartburn that keeps you awake at night
• Heartburn that causes forceful or projectile vomiting, vomiting blood or vomiting a green or yellow fluid or substance that looks like coffee grounds
• Difficulty swallowing, or pain in your mouth or throat when eating
• Heartburn that doesn’t go away after taking medications for two weeks

If left untreated, GERD can lead to serious complications. The stomach acids that inflame your esophagus can cause bleeding, ulcers and scarring that ultimately inhibit your ability to swallow. Barrett’s esophagus is another serious condition in which the tissue that lines the esophagus changes to tissue resembling the lining of the intestine. It can lead to esophageal cancer. Frequent heartburn can also be a sign of a hiatal hernia, which should be treated by a doctor. Hiatal hernias occur when the upper part of your stomach bulges into your chest through an opening in the diaphragm, which can lead to digestive issues. Holy Cross Health offers several diagnostic technologies that allow our physicians to effectively diagnose, stage and plan treatment for a variety of digestive health concerns. Holy Cross Germantown Hospital also was the first community hospital in Montgomery County to an innovative treatment called the LINX© Reflux Management System used to treat heartburn and hiatal hernias. This is a minimally invasive procedure that restores the natural function of the esophagus.

Find a Physician

Holy Cross Health’s heartburn program includes experienced, board-certified physicians in the areas of general surgery, gastroenterology and bariatric surgery, who work as needed with other specialists and team members including physician assistants, specially trained nurses, endoscopy technicians and support staff. To find a physician, search the online physician's directory.

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Holy Cross Health presents the information in this blog as a resource for our community. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice or to endorse any particular entity or service. Personal health problems should be brought to the attention of the appropriate health professionals.