Heartburn is caused by acid reflux, and can be a severe health condition for some people. For a lot of us, getting heartburn relief is one the primary goals in our life. People living heartburn free might not understand this obsession but it is, if you will forgive the pun, a 'burning' desire that you get rid of your heartburn as quickly as possible.

There are many ways to finding your own unique method of heartburn relief, and they run the gamut from over-the-counter drugs, to natural remedies, to prescription drugs.

Then there is always the tried and true technique of diet control.

For quick heartburn relief a glass of low fat milk is perfect, especially if you're just after a meal. If you're on the go and haven't got any medication nearby, a stick of chewing gum will also go a long way to relieving your distress. The alkaline the saliva produces by the chewing process will resist back the stomach acids rising in your gullet.

Physicians also advise that you stay on the move when you endure an attack. Standing, walking, or light exercise will all aid you in finding heartburn relief. Sitting, or even lying down is a big no, no, as this will just give your stomach acids easier access to your esophagus, causing you bigger heartburn.

If you're going for the over-the-counter variety of relief presented, there are many to select from. Most of these are antacids, and will oppose your rising acidity levels. Products such as Tums, Pepcid, and Zantac are all very well known and do tend to work most of the time. However, if you're going for this type of heartburn relief it is always a good thing to consult your physician first. They will be able to tell you better on which variety of heartburn relief aids you should be taking.

If you're the adventurous sort, a more natural method of heartburn relief can be to take one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. This supposedly relieves you of you heartburn within minutes. Caution is advised however when taking home remedies such as this.

For any remedy that you take there can be side effects, so you certainly do need to be cautious when reaching for that handy new relief that somebody just told you about. Again, it's always a good idea to discuss with your doctor. Being watchful will keep you fit and healthy, and living for a long time with no necessity to reach for that bottle of 'heartburn relief'.