Conservative Treatment

Treatment of reflux begins with the basics.  First, avoid those things you know will make your heartburn worse.  This means to stop smoking, drink alcohol in moderation or quit completely, avoid mints and chocolates, and stay away from NSAID’s.
 
Second, modify your diet a little to avoid overfilling the stomach.  Eat at least four hours before going to bed, so your stomach has time to empty.  Elevate the head of your bed to help acid that’s produced at night empty out of the stomach.
 
Third, try some over-the-counter medications to relieve heartburn.  Start with antacids.  They are formulated to decrease the acidity in the stomach so that even if the fluid reaches the esophagus, it’s not as irritating.  If antacids are not helping, you may have to use other medications.