Heartburn

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Definition Symptoms Causes Risk factors When to seek medical advice

Tests and diagnosis Complications Treatments and drugs Lifestyle and home remedies Alternative medicine

Definition

The symptoms of heartburn are hard to ignore. You've just eaten a big meal and leaned back in your favorite chair. As you begin to relax, your chest starts to hurt so much it feels like it's on fire.

Heartburn is common, and an occasional episode is generally nothing to worry about. However, many people battle heartburn — a burning sensation in the food pipe (esophagus), just below or behind the breastbone — regularly, even daily. Frequent heartburn can be a serious problem, and it deserves medical attention. Frequent or constant heartburn is the most common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) — a disease in which stomach acid or, occasionally, bile flows back (refluxes) into your esophagus.

Most people can manage the discomfort of heartburn with lifestyle modifications and over-the-counter medications. But if heartburn is severe, these remedies may offer only temporary or partial relief.

NEXT:

Symptoms

RELATED

MayoClinic.com Bookstore

• 'Mayo Clinic EmbodyHealth Guide to Self-Care' (Softcover)
• 'Mayo Clinic on Digestive Health,' Second Edition (Softcover)