Self-Care at Home

For mild or occasional symptoms, simple lifestyle modifications can be helpful.

• Avoid large meals.
  
  
• Avoid caffeine (coffee, teas, some soft drinks).
  
  
• Avoid foods or drinks that reduce pressure on the lower esophageal sphincter such as chocolate, peppermint, caffeine-containing beverages, and fatty or fried foods.
  
  
• Avoid foods that damage the esophagus such as spicy foods, citrus fruits and juices, tomatoes and tomato sauces.
  
  
• After eating, beware of activities that force acid back into your esophagus. Such activities include lifting, straining, coughing, and wearing tight clothing.
  
  
• Use gravity to your advantage. Avoid lying down within 3 hours of meals. If you suffer from nighttime heartburn, elevate the head of your bed when sleeping. Place 6-inch blocks underneath the head of the bed, or place a wedge under the mattress. Simply using more pillows under your head will not help. In fact, it may worsen the heartburn by increasing the pressure on your stomach.
  
  
• Lose weight if you are overweight.
  
  
• Stop smoking.
  
  
• Limit alcohol intake.
  
  
• Antacids such as Maalox, Mylanta, Tums, or Rolaids can also be helpful. Antacids work by neutralizing acid. They should be taken 1 hour after meals or when heartburn symptoms occur.
  
  
• Low doses of drugs that block the production of stomach acid are available over-the-counter. Some examples include cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), and famotidine (Pepcid).