I get heartburn sometimes, visited a doctor and he said i've gerd, he also gave me medicines. is gerd too serious of a disease and will it affect my overall lifespan?

Though GERD can become a chronic problem , it does not seem to affect life expectancy , according to different studies. It can be managed fairly well in most cases with lifestyle changes in diet , smoking and alcohol intake etc , though some patients may need medication to control the symptoms . Also, it is important to get regular follow up with your physician .