You have to remember that although it can be purchased over the counter, you still need a doctor s prescription for higher doses. If you still continue to experience heartburn, the doctor may recommend adding a drug, such as metoclopramide. This drug will empty food and acid from your stomach quickly. This irritates our esophagus and causes us to feel a burning sensation starting from the diaphragm all the way behind our breastbone. This is the feeling that you know as heartburn. It will also be accompanied by a sour or bitter taste in the mouth, which is primarily the stomach acid you regurgitated. It will also make it harder for you to swallow and if GERD is left untreated, it can lead to more serious medical problems, such as cancer of the esophagus and even stomach cancer. People with this disease will suffer many sleepless nights because of the pain. As a result, people with GERD will live a lower quality of life. Heartburn is a condition that millions of people today are suffering from. It is also an age-old condition that people have been experiencing. You have to keep in mind that heartburn is a common condition that is treatable and even preventable. First of all, you have to remember that heartburn is in no way related to any heart condition. Secondly, you need to avoid certain foods. If you love spicy food, such as Mexican food, then you may want to cut back on this type of food while you are pregnant. Spicy food can get your stomach to produce more acid, which will increase the likelihood of you experiencing heartburn. Fried and fatty foods should also be avoided as this type of food is hard to digest, which will force your stomach to produce more stomach acid. This works by neutralizing the acid in your stomach and it should be taken 1 hour after meals or when you feel heartburn symptoms starting. You can also take advantage of drugs that block the production of stomach acids. Low doses of these drugs are available over the counter. These are the self-care and medical treatments that you can consider if you are suffering from heartburn.