First of all, let me make one thing clear.
A heart attack and heartburn both involve severe pain in the chest.
Having suffered a heart attack myself, I know that it is very easy to convince yourself that it is bad heartburn.
If you ever experience a severe chest pain that you cannot explain, seek medical help immediately.
  To tackle heartburn, it is important to try to establish what it is that triggers your attacks.
Keep a food diary for a couple of weeks, writing down everything you eat and whether or not an attack of heartburn followed on.
I have found that any kind of oily or fatty food leads to an attack.
The worst offenders tend to be fast food, whether I buy it from any of the big food chains or if it is those ready meals that supermarkets sell.
Following a healthy diet has reduced the number of attacks I experience, and they now only occur when I have eaten some of the so called convenience foods.
Aside from avoiding the food triggers, try out the following tips: Try not to bend over following a large meal.
Drink a large glass of water when you feel the burning pain starting.
Avoid lying down as this allows the acid to flow up into your mouth.
Nibble on some raw carrot, radish or cucumber.
Eat an apple (does not work for everyone, but worth a try).
  Smoking aggravates heartburn, so do try to give it up.
It will also help if you can reduce your weight if you are overweight.
Finally, if you find that it gets worse after you have went to bed try not eating in the two hours before bedtime.