And, when we lie down, there will be a much more prolonged contact between the esophagus and the acid, which can easily lead to the deterioration of the esophagus lining, which will cause a more serious complication as mentioned earlier. So, here are some of the ways on how you can prevent heartburn from happening during nighttime. If you are a smoker, then you should quit smoking as the nicotine content in cigars and cigarettes can weaken the lower esophageal sphincter, which is basically the muscle the controls the opening between the esophagus and the stomach. These are some of the ways on how you can manage heartburn. Having a severe case of heartburn will lead to much worse complications. The rule here is to see the doctor if you need antacids to get relief from heartburn for more than 2 weeks. This may be a sign that you may be suffering from a more complicated condition or a more serious condition that causes heartburn. Your doctor will be able to provide you with better diagnosis and administer the proper or appropriate treatment for your condition. Basically Hiatal Hernia occurs when the stomach protrudes upwards through the hiatus, which is a space in the diaphragm. When this happens, it can put pressure on the LES, which prevents it from closing properly and therefore let stomach acid flow in to the esophagus freely. Chronic heartburn can be treated with antacids and lifestyle changes. Because of this, the stomach produces more acid in order to digest these types of foods properly, which is primarily what you don t want to happen as it will increase the likelihood of experiencing heartburn. So, lifestyle modification is needed in order for you to prevent heartburn or at least lessen its frequency. This will lessen your stomach s production of acid, which will help in managing heartburn. You should also try to avoid foods that weaken the sphincter. You have to keep in mind that the sphincter acts as a valve that keeps the stomach acid in the stomach. When you eat certain foods that weaken or relax the sphincter, it will allow stomach acid to reach the esophagus, which ultimately causes heartburn.