What Do You Know About Heartburn?

Almost everyone gets acid indigestion, or heartburn, at some point. You can get heartburn by eating either too much food or foods that are high in fat. It can also be caused by alcohol, cigarettes, and even medicine.

Heartburn every now and then is usually not serious. But if you get heartburn often, see your healthcare provider. Your heartburn may be a symptom of something more serious.

If you have any of these symptoms, in any combination, with or without heartburn, call 911 right away. You may be having a heart attack.

Heartburn is not a disease. It is a symptom. Most people get occasional heartburn after eating or when lying down. It's most often seen in gastroesophageal reflux disease GERD). Heartburn is typically described as a burning feeling in the upper belly (abdomen)—under your ribs—and sometimes goes all the way to your neck. It often comes with a feeling of bloating and a need to burp. Sometimes it can cause nausea and vomiting, or cause acid to back up into your throat. It can be short-term or last for hours.

Lifestyle changes can help prevent heartburn. But if your symptoms don't go away after making these changes and taking over-the-counter (OTC) medicine, see your healthcare provider to discuss other alternatives. Always talk with your healthcare provider before taking any OTC medicine.

Antacids may provide quick relief of your symptoms by neutralizing the acid in your stomach. Other products, called H2-receptor blockers, reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes. Other medicines also control how much acid your stomach makes and work to heal your esophagus at the same time. Be sure to read all the instructions and warnings on these or any medicines before you take them. And check with your pharmacist to make sure they don’t interact with other medicines you take. Always talk with your healthcare provider before taking any OTC medicines.

Your provider may do an endoscopy to check for more serious problems. During an endoscopy, a long, thin tube (catheter) is put down your esophagus and into your stomach to check for ulcers in the esophagus or stomach, or other problems.