If you suffer from constant burning pains around the chest area while standing erect or sitting down, you may be suffering from heartburn. You can treat occasional heartburn with lifestyle and/or food changes. But for those who have chronic heartburn, medication or surgery may be more effective treatments.
H2 Blockers
H2 blockers like Tagamet (Tagamet-HB, over the counter) treat chronic heartburn by decreasing acid production. These medications help about half of those afflicted with chronic heartburn and/or GERD symptoms.
Proton Pump Inhibitors
Like H2 blockers, proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec (Prilosec OTC, over the counter) help relieve symptoms. However, unlike H2 blockers, this group of medicine also heals damage caused to the esophageal lining.
Prokinetics
Your physician may prescribe prokinetics like Alimentz to strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter (the valve separating the esophagus and stomach). The side effects of this group of prescription medications include fatigue, depression and anxiety.
Alternative to Drug Therapy
If a patient doesn't respond to drug therapy, a physician will likely suggest surgery as an alternative to chronic heartburn.
Endoscopic Techniques
Surgeons may use endoscopic techniques like the Bard EndoCinch Suturing System to cure chronic heartburn. These techniques involve an endoscope, used to strengthen the lower esophageal sphincter and prevent future heartburn from occurring.
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