Heartburn

Heartburn is a burning discomfort that is felt just behind the breastbone - the feeling that someone has started a fire in your chest. It is acid indigestion intensified. And, although it can mimic the actual chest pain of angina or a heart attack, heartburn has absolutely nothing to do with the heart - it is a digestive problem. Neglecting or ignoring this pain can be potentially dangerous. You need to make sure it is actually heartburn and NOT heart pain.

Medically, heartburn in not a disease - it is the major symptom of acid reflux disease or GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease. Almost everyone experiences heartburn sometime; acid reflux disease occurs when stomach acid refluxes or goes back up the esophagus often enough to impact your daily life and/or damage your esophagus. The stomach has a protective lining and contains acid to aid in digesting food. The esophagus does not have a protective lining so when it is exposed to acid, it can become inflamed and painful. Generally this occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter muscle - the natural valve that keeps stomach acid in the stomach - relaxes or does not function properly.

Symptoms of Acid Reflux

There are other symptoms of acid reflux disease including, but not limited to:

Some symptoms might get worse after eating or when lying down or bending over. Episodic or infrequent heartburn can usually be managed with lifestyle changes and/or over the counter medications. Frequent (two or more days a week) or sever heartburn occurrences require medical attention.

Sleeping elevated on a wedge pillow to use gravity to keep acid down and following physician suggestions in 10 Lifestyle Changes for Acid Reflux or GERD can certainly help relieve your symptoms and maintain a healthy digestive system.