Stop eating certain food like chocolate, peppermint, stop smoking, and drinking alcohol and coffee. Most patients find that, even if they follow these rules, they get no relief. In order to deal with the acid reflux, antacids are started. The acid reducing drug like Zantac, Tagamet, Pepsid and Axsid is tried. Coating agents and motility enhance are also tried.
Most patients get little long term relief.
A major disadvantage of medications is that they can create other problems with long term use. Surgery is the only definitive cure for esophageal reflux and Hiatus Hernia. Although the procedure has been successful for over 50 years, before the age of laparoscopy, it required a large incision, a week or two in the hospital and a six week recovery. Now with the use of 3D Virtual Reality Laparoscopy, this procedure is a same day surgery with small puncture wounds and one week recovery. Correct diagnosis and rapid treatment are essential.