GERD Treatment: Easy Steps to Calm Your Heartburn

If you’ve ever felt a burning sensation after a meal, you’ve probably experienced GERD – gastro‑esophageal reflux disease. It’s not just a one‑off flare; it can sneak into daily life and make eating, sleeping, or even exercising uncomfortable. The good news is that most people can tame GERD with a mix of simple habits, over‑the‑counter (OTC) products, prescription medicines, and, in rare cases, surgery. Below we break down each option so you can start feeling better today.

Everyday habits that cut reflux fast

The fastest way to lower reflux is to change a few daily routines. Try to eat smaller meals and avoid lying down for at least three hours after you eat. Raising the head of your bed by 6‑8 inches with a wedge pillow or blocks can keep stomach acid where it belongs while you sleep.

Watch what you sip, too. Coffee, alcohol, carbonated drinks, and citrus juices are classic triggers. Swap them for water, herbal tea, or low‑fat milk. If you love spicy food, cut back on chili, pepper, and hot sauce – even a tiny reduction can make a big difference.

Weight matters. Extra belly fat pushes the stomach upward and worsens reflux. Losing 5‑10 % of your body weight often reduces heartburn episodes dramatically. Simple steps like a daily walk, swapping sugary snacks for fruit, and tracking calories can help you reach that goal without a gym membership.

OTC and prescription medicines – when lifestyle isn’t enough

When diet and posture still leave you with burning, OTC antacids such as Tums or Maalox can neutralize acid for quick relief. They work fast but don’t fix the underlying problem, so use them only when you need immediate comfort.

For longer‑lasting control, H2 blockers (like ranitidine or famotidine) reduce acid production and work for a few hours. If you need round‑the‑clock protection, a proton‑pump inhibitor (PPI) such as omeprazole or lansoprazole is the go‑to option. PPIs are often taken once a day before breakfast and can heal the esophagus over weeks.

Prescription strengths of PPIs or combination therapy might be necessary if OTC doses don’t help. Your doctor may also test for H. pylori infection, which can worsen reflux, and treat it with antibiotics if present.

In about 5‑10 % of cases, medicines and lifestyle changes still don’t control symptoms. That’s when doctors consider surgical options. The most common procedure, laparoscopic fundoplication, wraps the top of the stomach around the lower esophagus to tighten the valve that prevents backflow. Newer endoscopic techniques, like radiofrequency therapy (Stretta), are less invasive and can help certain patients.

Before choosing surgery, ask your doctor about success rates, recovery time, and whether you’ll need to stay on medication afterward. Most people who have successful surgery report a big drop in heartburn and can return to normal meals within a few weeks.

Bottom line: start with easy lifestyle tweaks, add OTC meds if you need fast relief, move to prescription PPIs for ongoing control, and talk to your doctor about surgery only if other steps fail. With the right mix, you can keep GERD from stealing your comfort and enjoy meals again.