What is normal heartburn?

Just about ever yone has heartburn sometimes. Heartburn is a painful burning feeling in your chest or throat. According to the National Institutes of Health "Pregnancy, certain foods, alcohol and some medications can bring on heartburn. Treating heartburn is important because over time reflux can damage the esophagus. Over-the-counter medicines may help. If the heartburn continues, you may need prescription medicines or surgery."

You may want to see your doctor if you're taking Tums frequently and are using medication. For the specifics on the type of drugs that may be affected by anti-acids, click this link.

http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/otc-center/otc-medicines/85...

And there are apparently several reasons to see a doctor including:

Trouble or pain when you swallow
Bloody vomit
Bloody or black stools
Ongoing stomach pain
Lightheaded, dizzy or sweaty feeling
Chest pain, shoulder pain, or pain that spreads to your arms, neck or shoulders with shortness of breath
Weight loss for no reason
Nausea or vomiting
Wheezing (you’ll hear a squeaky or musical sound in your chest)
Heartburn that has lasted more than 3 months
You should stop using antacids or acid reducers and call your doctor if any of the following are true:

Your stomach pain doesn’t get better when you use the medicine, or it gets worse.

You need to take the medicine for more than 14 days. This answers your question from above.

You’re taking Omeprazole (brand name: Prilosec) and feel like you need to take more than 1 course in 4 months.
Don’t try to treat yourself if you have any of these symptoms. They may be signs that you have an ulcer or a more serious problem that needs to be checked by your doctor.