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Heartburn and acid reflux (GERD): the signs, when to see a doctor, what helps, and the medicines
For adults with a burning in the chest after eating, food or a sour taste coming back up, heartburn that keeps waking them at night, antacids taken every day, or a doctor who said “GERD”. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK, part of the NIH) says having acid reflux once in a while is common, and that GERD is the longer-lasting kind, with symptoms that keep coming back. This page passes on, by name, what NIDDK says: the signs and when to see a doctor, what makes it more likely, sleep, food and habits, the kinds of medicine, and tests and surgery. It builds the words to say to a clinic or a pharmacist, and prints a card to track a week.
Right now
- Chest pain or pressure, especially with shortness of breath, a cold sweat, nausea, feeling faint, or pain in the arm, back, neck or jaw: call 911 (ours). Heartburn and a heart attack can feel alike: do not wait to see whether an antacid works. See When it might be a heart attack.
- Vomiting a lot of blood, or fainting: call 911 (ours).
- Vomit that looks like coffee grounds, black or bloody stool, or trouble swallowing? NIDDK says see a doctor: these can be signs of bleeding in the digestive tract or of other serious problems.
More help
- When it might be something else: A heart attack · Food poisoning and stomach bugs · Morning sickness · A cough or trouble breathing: find the right page.
- What can be part of it: Quitting smoking · Asthma · High blood pressure · Pregnant, or with a new baby.
- Care and medicines: When you need a doctor and can’t pay · When you can’t afford your medicine · My medicines list · Symptom diary · Get ready for your appointment.
- In a crisis: Help right now (988, 911). All our free tools.
An upset stomach, and not sure this is the right page? The pages on this site for throwing up, diarrhea, heartburn and constipation, on one list.
This page and its wording were written with AI (Claude) for Scarlet Beast (our AI policy). No doctor or nurse has reviewed it. The facts were read on October 15, 2026 on NIDDK’s Acid Reflux (GER & GERD) in Adults pages (NIH): the overview, Definition & Facts, Symptoms & Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment and Eating, Diet, & Nutrition (last reviewed July 2020). Ours: calling 911 for chest pain that could be a heart attack (with the warning signs our heart attack page names), for vomiting a lot of blood, or for fainting; calling a clinic the same day for black stool, vomit like coffee grounds or trouble swallowing; never stopping a prescribed medicine on your own; asking a pharmacist; the notes for shelters and shared rooms; and the order of the steps. What we left out: NIDDK’s pages about babies, children and teens (this guide is about adults), the names of medicines and products (ask a pharmacist), doses, and clinical pages for providers. This page saves nothing and loads no trackers.