Sometimes making simple lifestyle changes is enough to reduce the occurrence of heartburn:
Eat small, regular meals, and eat slowly.
Try to stay away from spicy or acidic foods, or large fatty meals.
Also avoid coffee, tea, milk and carbonated drinks with or without caffeine.
Limit alcohol consumption.
Pay attention to the reaction certain foods cause.
Try not to lie down, stoop or strain to lift objects following meals.
To prevent heartburn at night, raise the head of your bed six inches.
When heartburn occurs, drink water to dilute and remove acid from the lower esophagus.
Quit smoking.
If you are overweight, talk to your physician about starting a diet and exercise program.
Don’t wear tight clothing or belts.
Avoid bending over if it causes heartburn.
Beyond simply changing your lifestyle, there are also several heartburn medications your healthcare professional can prescribe, depending on the severity of your symptoms. If you think of your stomach as a faucet, each of these drugs works in the following way.