Medical treatments for mild to severe acid reflux

For mild to moderate symptoms of acid reflux h2 blockers or histamine receptors to inhibit acid secretion. However they are not completely effective in inhibiting the secretion and the result may vary based on the severity of the condition and the dosage used.

Another remedy is to use promotility agents which not only helps in indigestion but also in speeding up the emptying of gastric juices to relieve the pressure from the upper valve in the stomach and thus reduces the chances of undigested food to be pushed through the oesophagus from the stomach and cause acid reflux symptom.

For serious cases of acid reflux doctors swear by the use of proton pump inhibitors[PPI]. It is claimed that 80% of the patients of acid reflux or GERD shows positive result and give them relief from night time irritation due to acid reflux. However like any other medication this too has its side effects. In fact all medicinal drugs cause side effects that may range from diarrhea to feeling feverish, abdominal pain or headaches.

And Yes Pregnant women and people with kidney or liver problems need to be cautious. Surgical procedures can be used only as a last resort and yes unfortunately they don't seem to be completely effective and may depend on factors like age and health of the patient and experience of the surgeon. Moral of the story prevention is better than cure.

Now my most favorite treatment is of course using the wedge pillow to provide a proper inclination to the head between 6 -8 inches and avoid a cumbersome sleep due to heartburn. However, it takes some time for our bodies to get used to the new inclined position of sleeping and if not done properly may sprain the neck or worsen the situation. Because the body may not be used to the additional pressure on the back or the posterior ,we need to retrain our bodies to sleep with our head incline above the rest of the body. And yes the initial discomfort is nothing compared to the immediate relief we get from nighttime heartburn. So go ahead and sweet dreams without heartburn.