Is constant heartburn a serious problem? every time i eat, i get moderately painful, sometimes very painful, heartburn. should i just try some otc drugs, or is it better to get this looked at?

Try : Try otc medications, provided you are not allergic. There are some medication on the market that are very effective for helping with heartburn. Your doctor will want to know if you have tried this option prior to seeing him/her. Some of the medications can take up to 14 days to begin working. If after a couple of weeks the otc meds are not helpful, make an appointment to see your doctor. It is important that you do not leave this untreated. The acids in your stomach can cause deterioration of your espohagus or an ulcer. Also, is any of these pains are associated with chest pain that is tight/pressure or radiates to the jaw or back, it could be a cardiac issue. Go to the er if this is the case.

Get it scoped: If pain is constant and associated with eating, it is important to have your upper GI tract looked at with endoscope to see what the possible treatable causes could be

Agree with Dr. G: In addition to his suggestions, if you are overweight try losing weight.