Although heartburn is a common ailment, when the problem becomes recurrent, it is time to seriously consider the underlying problem. Changes to your lifestyle combined with medications can fix most cases of recurrent heartburn.

Find The Culprit

Certain medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), can cause a host of gastrointestinal symptoms, especially heartburn. Other culprits are what you eat and drink. Acidic beverages and alcohol can be the problem. Many beverages you may not think of as acidic, such as coffee or citrus juice, should be avoided if you are having stomach troubles. Avoid spicy foods or ones that are simply harder to digest, such as fried food or red meat. Try to eat a simple, relatively bland diet for a while, or at least until you can determine what might trigger heartburn and your gastrointestinal system has a chance to heal.

Try Medications

Fortunately, many of the medications used for heartburn can be purchased at retail stores. Antacids and acid reducers can help for a short while, but these remedies are not designed for long-term use. If you are having heartburn more than a couple of times each week you should try proton-pump inhibitors. These medications are purchased in short courses, usually two weeks, and you are only supposed to take one course every four months. When taking proton-pump inhibitors, be mindful of the directions. Typically, you are supposed to take them on an empty stomach with water, and wait a while before eating. This allows the medication to be more effective at reducing stomach acid.

Talk With Your Doctor

If you have tried lifestyle changes and retail medications, but continue to experience recurrent heartburn, it is time to talk with your doctor. Your doctor may want to perform additional tests to determine if there is a problem in your upper gastrointestinal system. Stomach or small intestine ulcers could be a concern, as is a problem with the connection between your esophagus and stomach. Recurrent heartburn can also cause erosive damage to your esophagus, further compounding the problem. Damage to the first part of your small intestines, stomach, or esophagus can usually be seen with an endoscopy. Based on the results of testing, you might be referred to a specialist for further treatment. In the meantime, your doctor might prescribe other medications to suppress heartburn and recommend other lifestyle changes.

Making lifestyle changes quickly after noticing heartburn might prevent one instance from becoming an ongoing problem. When the problem becomes recurrent, prompt treatment may help you avoid significant damage to your esophagus. Contact a family medical practice for more help.