by KYW's medical editor Dr. Brian McDonough
I often hear patients complain about heartburn. They talk about the discomfort and how frustrating it can be. But for most people a visit to the pharmacy and the use of a wide variety of products can make a difference.
But there are two things you should know when it comes to heartburn. First, alcohol, aspirin, caffeine and tobacco are all associated with heartburn. The other point is that if you have heartburn that is persistent - that does not go away - it could be a warning sign for something more serious.
Heartburn is really the result of stomach acid irritating the wall of the esophagus, the tube that goes from the mouth to the stomach. If this goes on for a long time it can lead to serious changes in the lining of the esophagus - even cancer. The bottom line, it is fine to go to the drug store to treat that occasional heartburn problem, but if it persists get seen by a physician.
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