Health encyclopaedia

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Treatment of Heartburn

Occasional or mild heartburn can usually be treated effectively with over-the-counter medicines for indigestion. These drugs are known as antacids and they may be taken in liquid or tablet form. They work by neutralising stomach acid quickly.

If your symptoms are severe or prolonged, and unresponsive to these medicines, your doctor may prescribe ulcer-healing drugs. These drugs reduce the production of stomach acid to allow the inflamed gullet to heal. Alternatively, antispasmodic drugs and motility stimulants may be prescribed. These drugs help to relieve muscle spasms in the intestines so that the stomach empties more quickly.

For severe heartburn, surgery may be necessary. The stomach is returned to its normal position and the muscular valve in the gullet is tightened. This procedure can be carried out by endoscopic surgery. A thin, flexible tube known as an endoscope carrying tiny surgical tools is passed through the mouth and into the stomach, where the operation is carried out. Alternatively, the operation can be performed using a type of endoscope that is rigid. In this case, surgical tools are passed into the stomach through small cuts (incisions) made in the abdomen.

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