it depends on the cause, hiatus hernias for example cause acid reflux and can be treated with key hole surgery if deemed bad enough, if not then antacid meds should keep it at bay if taken regularly as prescribed.

I take 150mg ranitidine twice daily and it usually keeps it at bay unless i go mad on greasy/fatty foods, citrus stuff or fizzy drinks/wine.

i also sleep on a wedge of pillows so my shoulders are much higher than my bum.

i was advised to eat my main meal at lunch time and have nothing at all after 6 pm and that it is better to have 6 small meals than three regular ones, but i find this impossible most of the time as i don't get downstairs much before 11am.

when the reflux is really playing up i find laying on my stomach with my knees up as high as high as they will go helps calm it down for some reason.

acid reflux can cause polips throughout your digestion tract, most are benign but it is advisable to get this checked yearly as some strains can turn cancerous, though this takes qiute a while. polips are usually identified and removed at the same time using a camera and tiny tools on long bendy handles up your bum or down your throat depending on which end they are checking. usually polips are removed at around 4mm in size, though mine was 4cm and in the pre cancerous stage when i was checked last year. (on removal they tattooed the site so they can check it is ok :0 )