Heartburn Hazards

In most cases, over-the-counter remedies work, but they can mask more serious problems

If the fireworks you experienced last weekend had more to do with the acid in your stomach than the starbursts overhead, you probably blamed it on that one last hot dog you ate before reaching for a bottle of Maalox or a package of Pepcid AC. Most of the time, these and other heartburn remedies are all that are necessary to settle your stomach. But if you suffer from regular bouts of acid indigestion, you may need more than just a drugstore fix; you could have a more serious condition called gastroesophageal reflux disorder, or GERD, which can severely damage the...

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