Constant heartburn is a serious problem that requires immediate diagnosis and treatment. Lack of action will cause constant pain and may lead to permanent damage in the esophagus. There is also a risk of developing cancer of the esophagus. Although heartburn is in itself not generally dangerous especially if it only happens from time to time or when triggered, constant heartburn is a whole different matter.
This is because constant heartburn is not a medical condition but is also a symptom of another medical problem. When heartburn is chronic or constant, it is usually diagnosed as GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease. This disease causes food and the stomach acids used to digest them to burp back up through the esophagus.
For the occasional onset of heartburn, over-the-counter antacids are usually enough. However, if you have been experiencing constant heartburn, the partial relief provided by antacids will not help you in the long run. Antacids only neutralize the excess stomach acids already present in the stomach, but they do not block the production of excess acids, so you will have to keep on taking them for continuous relief.
For constant heartburn, however, the objective is long term treatment and prevention, not immediate relief from already existing symptoms. Thus, the more effective treatment for constant heartburn is the acid blocker or H2 blocker. These cannot provide instant relief like antacids do, but they are more beneficial in the long run because they can hinder the body from producing too much stomach acids. There are many acid blockers that can help with constant heartburn; ask your doctor which brand is most recommended for you. These are available in mild, OTC forms, but if they don’t work, you can ask your doctor to prescribe you with stronger forms.
Unlike most drugs that are taken after eating, acid blockers should be taken twice daily, ideally within 30 minutes to 1 hour before meals. This way, when your stomach starts digesting food when you do eat, it won’t produce as much acid as it used to, and constant heartburn may be stopped and eventually prevented.
However, if the constant heartburn does not go away even with acid blockers, your doctor may prescribe you with stronger medications. These are proton pump inhibitors. Their purpose is to shut down the proton pumps in the stomach that produce the acid. PPIs are also the best treatment option if there are already some complications caused by GERD, such as erosions in the esophagus. Proton pump inhibitors are mostly prescription drugs; in fact, only one is available over the counter. Like acid blockers, these should be taken an hour before eating.
PPIs can be safely used to treat constant heartburn for an indefinite time, but continuously suppressing stomach acid also concerns some medical professionals. There are other treatment alternatives for constant heartburn, such as Reglan, which speeds up the digestive process. The quicker your stomach empties, the less chance there will be for excess stomach acids to creep upwards. To be certain, those suffering from constant heartburn should undergo an endoscopy to see if past heartburn episodes have caused erosions in your esophagus. Findings will help determine the true cause and the best course of treatment for your constant heartburn problems.