What preventative treatments are there for gerd and heartburn?

See below: There are a number of medications used to treat acid reflux. Non-medical therapies or preventitive therapies include weight loss, avoiding late meals, avoiding trigger foods, avoiding caffeine, nicotine and alcohol.

Prevent/Control GERD: Avoid foods & behavior that delay stomach emptying &/or relax the lower esophageal sphincter--spicy, greasy food, mints, alcohol, tobacco, chocolate, tomato-based products, caffeinated & fizzy drinks, eating before bedtime. Lose weight. Elevate head of bed on blocks. Use otc acid blockers for relief (h2's: tagamet, zantac, (ranitidine) pepcid; ppi's: prilosec, prevacid, zegerid). See a GI doctor if persistent.