What is heartburn?

Heartburn is an uncomfortable burning feeling in the chest and throat. Get rid of heartburn fast with medications, home care and alternative therapies.

Heartburn is an uncomfortable burning feeling in your chest and throat. It doesn't have anything to do with your heart. However, the sensation is so close to your heart that it can feel like your heart is in pain

Heartburn is caused by stomach acid creeping up into your esophagus, which is the tube that connects your throat to your stomach. The acid is irritating and leads to discomfort.

Learn more about heartburn and how to get heartburn relief fast. 

Main symptoms 

The main symptom of heartburn is a feeling of irritation and pain in your chest and throat. It usually happens shortly after eating. It can last a few minutes or go on for hours.

You may also notice a sour taste in the back of your throat or feel like food or liquid is stuck there. You might experience coughing or your voice might become hoarse while the heartburn is going on.

Heartburn symptoms can feel worse when you bend over or lie down.

Main causes 

Heartburn is caused by stomach acid creeping up into your esophagus. Typically, the acid gets trapped behind a muscle called your lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES acts as a valve that opens to let food into your stomach. If it loosens, acid can escape and cause discomfort.

There are several different reasons why the LES can open up and lead to heartburn:

  • Overeating: Over-filling your stomach can put pressure on the LES and allow it to open
  • Pressure on the stomach: Obesity and constipation can push on the stomach and lead to heartburn
  • Hiatal hernia: This happens when a small portion of the stomach pushes up into the diaphragm
  • Pregnancy: Heartburn is a frequent symptom in pregnancy. Pregnancy naturally loosens many muscles, including the LES

Certain foods are also triggers for heartburn. Some of the common ones include:

Tobacco, over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or aspirin, and certain prescription medicines can also lead to heartburn.

Who can get it?

Anyone can suffer from heartburn. Being overweight can increase your chances of experiencing heartburn. Pregnant women are especially prone to heartburn.

Diagnosis for heartburn 

Occasional heartburn isn't a cause for concern, but you should talk to your doctor if you have symptoms regularly. You could have a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). 

GERD can cause chronic loosening of the LES so that you have heartburn frequently. Your doctor will need to do testing to diagnose it properly.

Possible tests include:

Your doctor will have you drink a barium suspension that coats your esophagus, stomach, and upper small intestine. The coating lets doctors identify what is causing your heartburn.

Upper Endoscopy 

Doctors can thread a small camera on a flexible tube down your throat to see your stomach and esophagus.

pH Monitoring

Your doctor will run a small probe down your throat into your esophagus to measure your pH levels for 24 to 48 hours. You can continue your day as normal while it’s in, just remember to keep a diary to record any symptoms and all the food you’ve eaten.

Esophageal manometry
Your doctor inserts a tube from your nostril into your stomach. This tests the strength of your esophagus muscles at rest.

Treatments for heartburn 

Heartburn can be easy to treat and prevent, though severe cases can require help from a doctor. Learn more about what you can do to get rid of heartburn. 


You can try over-the-counter antacids to neutralize the acid in your stomach. Other medicines, like lansoprazole (Prevacid) and omeprazole (Prilosec), reduce the amount of acid your stomach produces.

If the non-prescription medicines don't help, your doctor can write you a prescription for stronger versions of these medicines.

Home care 

You can reduce or prevent heartburn by changing your diet. High-protein, low-fat meals are a good option.

You might find you feel better if you don't lie down too soon after eating. It can help to place 4- to 6-inch blocks under the legs at the head of your bed so gravity can keep the acid down. A wedge-shaped pillow would be an easier option, if you’d prefer. 

Quitting tobacco may also help prevent heartburn. 

Alternative therapies

Some people say an herbal supplement called Iberogast helps with heartburn, but you should only try this in moderation.

Chewing gum can provide some relief. You produce more saliva when you chew and saliva neutralizes the acid in your esophagus. As long as you’re not chewing large amounts of artificially sweetened gum, which could lead to diarrhea, this should be harmless.


If you have severe GERD and medicine isn't enough to ease symptoms, your doctor might suggest surgery. If a hiatal hernia causes your heartburn, there is surgery to repair that.

Other procedures for GERD include: 

  • Fundoplication: This tries to tighten the LES muscles by almost completely wrapping the esophagus to stop acid from creeping up from your stomach
  • LINX surgery: An emerging treatment where a surgeon implants a device to help manage your reflux



Digestive Disorders: Common Misconceptions See Slideshow

Possible risks and complications

The most common complication of heartburn is esophagitis, or the inflammation of the food pipe. This can cause constant burning pain, making it hard to swallow or eat. Without treatment, this can also lead to ulcers, bleeding, or both.

In less than 2% of esophagitis cases from people with GERD, a condition called Barrett’s esophagus can develop. This causes premalignant changes in the cells lining the esophagus. 

2% to 5% of people with Barrett’s esophagus end up getting cancer. If you have severe esophagitis, take medications regularly to keep acid down.

If you’re using antacids to treat your acid reflux, overuse can lead to diarrhea or constipation. Try to pick antacids that have both magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide to avoid this. One causes diarrhea and the other causes constipation, so they work against each other.

Health Solutions From Our Sponsors

Medically Reviewed on 1/28/2021

About GERD: "Surgical Treatments."


FamilyDoctor.org: "Heartburn."

GI Society: "Natural and Over-the-Counter Heartburn Treatments."

Harvard Health Publishing: "GERD: Heartburn and more."

University of Rochester Medical Center: "Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)/Heartburn."