The esophagus is a tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. It is made of muscles that work to push food toward the stomach in rhythmic waves. Once in the stomach, food is prevented from refluxing (moving back into the esophagus), by a special area of circular muscle located at the junction of the esophagus and stomach, called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). A pressure difference across the diaphragm, the flat muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen, also tends to keep stomach contents in the stomach.

The stomach combines food, acids, and enzymes together to begin digestion. There are special protective cells that line the stomach to prevent the acid from causing inflammation. The esophagus does not have this same protection, and if stomach acid and digestive juices reflux back into the esophagus, they can cause inflammation and damage to its unprotected lining.

Heartburn Medication
Antacids may be taken after meals, at bedtime, or when needed, to bind excess acid in the stomach and to coat the esophagus. Histamine H2 antagonists are medications that block the action of histamine (a chemical that stimulates stomach cells to produce acid) on the acid-producing cells of the stomach. This decreases acid production to hopefully decrease symptoms. Examples include:
-- cimetidine (Tagamet),
-- ranitidine (Zantac), and
-- famotidine (Pepcid).

Some H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors are available OTC without a prescription. However, there may be potential interactions with some prescription medications. Check with your health care professional or pharmacist for advice about their safe use.

Lifestyle changes
-- Eat smaller, more frequent meals
-- Avoid eating before bedtime
-- Avoid alcohol, aspirin, ibuprofen, and caffeine
-- Stop smoking
-- Elevate the head of the bed (or use two or three pillows) to allow gravity to keep acid in the stomach and avoid acid reflux.