Heartburn

Summary

Heartburn is a painful burning feeling in your chest or throat. It happens when stomach acid backs up into your esophagus, the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach.

If you have heartburn more than twice a week, you may have GERD. But you can have GERD without having heartburn.

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.

If you have other symptoms such as crushing chest pain, it could be a heart attack. Get help immediately.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

NIH MedlinePlus Magazine

• 4 Important Heartburn Facts You Should Know About
• Acid Reflux, Heartburn, and GERD: What’s the Difference?
• Finding Her Voice: A Teacher’s Heartburn Experience
• Heartburn: What You Need to Know

Start Here

• Acid Reflux American College of Gastroenterology
• Acid Reflux (GER and GERD) in Adults National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
• Heartburn American Academy of Family Physicians
• Heartburn Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research

Find an Expert

• American College of Gastroenterology American College of Gastroenterology
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Encyclopedia

• Bernstein test Medical Encyclopedia
• Heartburn Medical Encyclopedia
• Heartburn – what to ask your doctor Medical Encyclopedia

Patient Handouts

• Bland diet Medical Encyclopedia
• Heartburn Medical Encyclopedia
• Taking antacids Medical Encyclopedia

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Gastroesophageal Reflux National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Heartburn National Institutes of Health

Diagnosis and Tests

• Esophageal pH Test National Library of Medicine
• Heartburn or Heart Attack: When to Worry Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Upper Gastrointestinal (GI) Series National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Related Issues

• Globus International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders

Journal Articles

• Heartburn

Children

• Reflux in Children: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
• Reflux in Infants: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine