Q: For the past 2-3 weeks I have been having acute acidity/gas problem. Overall the problem has been there off and on for the past year or so. I don't get burning sensation in the throat, but there is pain and tenderness in the middle of the chest, just below the ribcage. It pains generally and especially on being touched. Also I feel pain and tightness in the chest and back. I have started belching a lot, even on empty stomach. I get shooting pain at times in my chest and below the ribs. There is pain in the ribcage as well, especially under the collar bone on the left side at times. The ribs pain if pressed. Is this due to gas? I also get headaches primarily around the eyes and forehead. Eyeballs pain if pressed. It also pains at one or two isolated pinpointed spots on the top of the skull. Is this all due to acidity? Initially I thought the chest pain was cardiac but the ECG came ok. I am taking a Pantocid daily for the past week. What can I do get rid of this problem? What medication will help?

A:It sounds like you may have a condition called GERD (gastro-oesophageal reflux disease), which means that acid from your stomach is backing up into your food pipe (oesophagus). Please take the following steps:

1. Continue to take Pantocid in morning before breakfast on an empty stomach.
2. Lose weight if you are overweight.
3. Avoid heavy meals.
4. Avoid going to bed for atleast 2 hrs after a meal.
5. You can stop all the other medications.