What is heartburn?
Heartburn is a burning feeling in your chest or throat. It happens when stomach acid comes up into your food pipe, also called the esophagus. Even though it’s called “heartburn,” it doesn’t have anything to do with your heart.
Causes of heartburn
Heartburn happens when the muscle at the bottom of your esophagus doesn’t close all the way. This allows stomach acid to flow back up and irritate your throat or chest. It can be caused by eating certain foods, lying down after eating or wearing tight clothes.Risk factors for heartburn
- You eat spicy, greasy or large meals.
- You drink soda, coffee or alcohol.
- You’re overweight.
- You lie down right after eating.
- You’re pregnant.
- You take certain medications.
Symptoms of heartburn
- A burning pain in your chest or throat.
- A sour or bitter taste in your mouth.
- Pain that gets worse when you lie down or bend over.
- A feeling like food is stuck in your throat.
Diagnosing heartburn
Most of the time, a doctor can tell it’s heartburn just by asking about your symptoms. If the symptoms happen often, they might do tests like:- An endoscopy (a small camera to look in your throat and stomach).
- pH tests to measure acid levels.
- X-rays to check for other problems.
Treatment of heartburn
Heartburn can often be managed at home with some simple changes:- Eat smaller meals.
- Avoid spicy, fatty or acidic foods.
- Don’t lie down right after eating.
- Take over-the-counter medicine like antacids.
Talk to your doctor if it happens often or doesn’t go away.