Heartburn Won’t Go Away? The OTC Treatment You Choose Could Make a Big Difference

That burning sensation rising from the stomach into the chest may seem like a minor after-meal annoyance, but choosing the right over-the-counter treatment matters — especially when heartburn keeps coming back.

Heartburn happens when stomach contents and acid flow back into the oesophagus, causing a burning sensation that can extend toward the throat. Occasional heartburn is common, but frequent symptoms may point to gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.

Health experts say there isn’t one over-the-counter medicine that is best for everyone. Antacids, H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and alginate-based products work in different ways and are suited to different patterns of symptoms.

WHAT SHOULD YOU TAKE FOR OCCASIONAL HEARTBURN?

For mild, infrequent heartburn, antacids can provide the fastest relief.

Products containing antacids work by neutralising stomach acid that is already present. They can be useful when burning suddenly appears after a meal, but they do not stop the stomach from producing more acid and do not heal an inflamed oesophagus.

If symptoms occur more regularly, H2 blockers may offer longer-lasting relief. These medicines reduce the amount of acid produced by the stomach, although they generally take longer to work than antacids.

Then there are proton pump inhibitors, commonly known as PPIs.

PPIs suppress stomach-acid production more strongly than H2 blockers and are commonly used for people experiencing frequent heartburn or GERD. They can also allow acid-damaged tissue in the oesophagus to heal.

Another option is an alginate-based medicine. These products can form a physical barrier that helps prevent stomach contents from moving back into the oesophagus. They may be particularly useful when regurgitation — the sensation of stomach contents coming back up into the throat — is a major symptom.

THE BIG WARNING: DON’T IGNORE FREQUENT HEARTBURN

Experts caution against treating recurring heartburn indefinitely with over-the-counter medicines.

CNA’s report notes that people who need heartburn medication for more than 10 consecutive days should consult a gastroenterologist, while Mayo Clinic advises seeking medical attention when symptoms occur more than twice a week or continue despite nonprescription treatment.

NIDDK likewise recommends speaking with a doctor when symptoms do not improve with over-the-counter medicines or lifestyle changes.

Long-term or inappropriate use of acid-suppressing medicines also deserves medical supervision. PPIs are generally considered effective and well tolerated, but researchers continue to study potential risks associated with prolonged or high-dose use.

WHEN HEARTBURN COULD BE SOMETHING MORE SERIOUS

Difficulty swallowing, persistent vomiting, unexplained weight loss, loss of appetite or signs of gastrointestinal bleeding should not be dismissed as ordinary heartburn. These symptoms can indicate complications or another medical condition and warrant professional evaluation.

There is also an important warning about chest pain.

Heartburn and a heart attack can sometimes feel remarkably similar. Severe or unexplained chest pain — particularly when accompanied by pressure, shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, or pain spreading to the arm, jaw, neck or back — requires urgent medical attention rather than assuming it is acid reflux.

LIFESTYLE CHANGES CAN ALSO HELP

Medication isn’t the only way to reduce heartburn.

Experts recommend identifying personal food triggers, avoiding large meals, not lying down soon after eating and elevating the head of the bed for nighttime symptoms. Maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding smoking can also help reduce reflux symptoms.

Common triggers can include spicy or fatty foods, chocolate, mint, citrus and tomato products, coffee, carbonated drinks and alcohol — although triggers vary from person to person.

The bottom line: occasional heartburn may respond well to an appropriate over-the-counter treatment, but recurring symptoms are a different story.

If you find yourself reaching for heartburn medicine repeatedly, the bigger question may no longer be which medicine works fastest — but why the heartburn keeps returning in the first place.

WWC ONE MEDIA M.J.E