Introduction An occasional feeling of heartburn is quite common among people.
However, if you're affected more than twice a week, then your condition may be more serious.
So where exactly do you get help? In any case, you should be able to find medications at your local drug store quite easily.
However, if you don't notice significant improvement, you might need to see a physician who will prescribe the right medicines.
Only in rare cases will a sufferer need to resort to surgery.
You may perceive that acid reflux is imminent.
Or it may occur suddenly, without warning.
It may get triggered at any time of the day.
It may happen in the middle of a meal or at the end.
Some foods can be really unsafe.
The trouble doesn't stop here; an acid reflux attack at night is even worse.
The good news The good news is that relief from acid reflux is not far away.
You don't need to bear this suffering for long.
When you lie down, it is possible for the acid to flow up the esophagus.
When you're upright, gravity helps to keep the acid in the stomach and swallowing neutralizes the acid and prevents it from climbing further up.
In the United States, about a sixty million people suffer from this disorder.
  Less than half of these people look for the help they really require.
If left untreated, acid reflux can cause the esophagus to wear away.
What causes acid reflux to occur? Acid reflux occurs because the sphincter that forms a valve at the end of esophagus weakens and does not function properly.
This permits acid from the stomach to flow back into the esophagus.
Most people who seek acid reflux help, however, can be easily treated.
A home remedy for acid reflux involves changing your eating habits.
Do not eat two to three hours before going to bed, avoid large meals, eat non-spicy foods and stay away from fatty foods.
Following these rules will do wonders to control your acid reflux.
Also, you should consider losing some weight if you're overweight.
You may also try sleeping with your head at a slightly higher level, so that the acidic contents may remain in the stomach.
There are reliable medications available that promise relief for sufferers.
Medications that inhibit acid production include H2 blockers which you may get at your local drugstore.
Antacids can serve to neutralize the symptoms.
Your doctor may prescribe proton pump inhibitors such as Prilosec or Prevacid.
Such medications help get rid of much of the discomfort of acid reflux.
The next time you are tempted by any of the offending foods, you should be reminded of the treatment that you may need to go through.