You’ve seen those commercials on TV for the purple pill or that pink/black one. There are a few brands out there. So how do you know which one you need or if you need it at all?
Heartburn, reflux, otherwise known as GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease is a very common problem. Millions of Americans suffer from this condition and billions of dollars are spent in medications to treat the epigastric pain, nausea, burning chest discomfort, and general bitter acid taste in the mouth, or an annoying cough that just doesn’t get better with any cough or cold medicine. In general, these symptoms occur after eating and lying down too soon after eating.
If you think you have heartburn, you can consider taking an over the counter medication for relief. You have many choices even with the over the counter drugs. For many people taking a medication like Pepcid or Zantac or even a Tums may be sufficient to alleviate their symptoms. If your symptoms persists, you should go see a doctor. Heartburn that occurs frequently may be a sign of reflux disease and may cause damage to the lining of your esophagus.
During this visit, the doctor will get some additional information from you regarding your symptoms to evaluate if there are other possible causes for your symptoms.. Here are some things you should consider discussing or asking your doctor if you, in fact, have reflux.
- If you are obese, talk to your doctor about weight loss. This will help improve your symptoms and also help your overall health. Try eating smaller meals too.
- Talk to the doctor about specific foods you should avoid, i.e. caffeine, alcohol, acidic foods like tomatoes and citrus fruits, and fatty or spicy foods.
- This would also be a good opportunity to quit smoking if you are a smoker. Of course, there are numerous health benefits with smoking cessation too.
- Your doctor may prescribe medications for relief of your symptoms. Be sure to ask about how to take these drugs, side effects and how long you’ll need to take the medication. Remember that unless you make some lifestyle changes, you may find that you need the medications long term.
- Which medication your doctor prescribes for you may depend on your prescription plan. You may want to ask for samples of the medication to start.
- If you’ve had your symptoms for a long time or the medications have not helped your symptoms, ask your doctor if you need to have an endoscopy to further evaluate your condition.
I usually recommend changing dietary and eating habits, limiting alcohol, smoking cessation, and weight control. You’ll find that you may not need any medication and that these changes will help your overall health too.