Heartburn is something more serious when it’s Gastroesophogeal Reflux Disease (GERD).  This does not go away on its own.  In fact, if you ignore it, you will just get worse and worse and nit just from the GERD symptoms.  Many people with GERD can’t sleep because of their symptoms such as coughing, heartburn and trouble swallowing.    You have to go to your doctor in order to get the best treatment.

What Is It?

There’s a ring of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) that connects your esophagus to your stomach.  The LES acts like a trap door in order to keep the stomach contents in the stomach.  In GERD, this trap door no longer works properly.  It either won’t close all the way or will open without warning, making the stomach acid (and anything else in it) going back up your esophagus to your mouth.  It’s the opening of your LES that causes your coughing, heartburn and trouble swallowing.

Things You Can Do Now

You are not completely helpless to your attacks of coughing, heartburn and trouble swallowing.  There are several things you can do to help you try to get somewhat comfortable.  The first thing you can do is make sure you are not wearing any tight clothing that presses down on your guts.  Your goal is to put as less pressure as possible on your guts.

Another thing you can do to lessen GERD symptoms such as coughing, heartburn and asthma-like symptoms is to prop up your pillows so that you are not lying down flat on your bed.  You need your head, neck and shoulders raised up a couple of inches at least from the mattress (or whatever you are sleeping on). This way, if your LES opens, the acid has a much better chance of staying in your stomach.

Long Term Goals

You will have to make some lifestyle changes in order to ease your coughing, heartburn and staying awake most of the night.  If you drink alcohol, you must stop or drastically cut back.  Water down the drinks you do have, eat with your drinks, nurse your drinks instead of shooting them back all in one gulp and don’t lie down for at least two hours after you finish your drink.

Another thing you will have to give up is smoking.  Nicotine is one of the worst aggravators of coughing, heartburn and asthma-like symptoms.  You also will get health benefits in other parts of your body, too.

There’s no sense taking a heartburn tablet or liquid or pill if you are not going to help it do its work.  No one pill or medicine can fix all of the reasons why you may be getting heartburn or acid indigestion.  This is condition that often has a variety of circumstances in order for it to have developed.  Distressing symptoms that keep you awake all night, such as coughing, heartburn or vomiting after belching needs much more than just a heartburn tablet or two.

You Must See Your Doctor

Heartburn, acid indigestion or acid reflux disease doesn’t go away on its own. This is also a condition that tends to get worse over time and not better.  If you have heartburn more than twice a week, then you need to see your doctor as son as possible.  One of the worst things about heartburn is that keeps you awake at night.  When your body can’t get enough sleep, your life becomes depressing and you can be more prone to accidents, mood swings and illnesses.

You Can Still Eat Food

You don’t necessarily have to give up your favorite foods right away.  You do need to be sure that you eat sitting up – especially if it’s a rich, spicy food.  Don’t eat lying down or settled back in the recliner, even heartburn tablets.  And try not to eat anything about two hours before going to bed.  If you do have to eat something, make it really mild food such as half a bowl of cereal.  This is less acid for the heartburn tablet to fight, as well as not having to fight gravity, too.

To Give Up

If you haven’t already, you must quit smoking.  Nicotine rips your stomach and esophagus lining to shreds.  If you don’t smoke but have a lot of friends who do, you need to see if they will refrain from smoking in your home or if you could go to more ventilated areas to socialize, instead of a bar or pub.  The beach is always a great option, if there’s one available.

Many people and healthcare professionals think that anyone who needs to take heartburn tablets on a regular basis should also quit all alcoholic beverages.  The National Heart burn Alliance doesn’t go that far, but does highly stress the importance of moderation and eating with meals.  They also state that alcohol should never be used to de-stress.  You should use deep breathing exercises, playing with your pet or light exercise, instead.