Some children with damage require periodic monitoring of the condition of their esophagus. Monitoring of the acid levels in the esophagus can help to determine whether reflux is causing symptoms that are somewhat confusing. Other tests may be done to rule out conditions that have some of the same symptoms as reflux. One of the main treatments for reflux is to search for your individual triggers. Exercising or lying down on a full stomach often increases reflux and should be avoided.
Many people sleep with the head of the bed raised to avoid night time reflux.
Reducing stress may be helpful, but again, this is not likely to bring about a cure. Tobacco and alcohol are definitely triggers because they cause the sphincter at the top of the stomach to relax. There are many medications for reflux. It is important to ask your doctor a lot of questions about the medications they recommend. Some are to be taken only for occasional reflux while others must be taken faithfully every day or they won't work.