You Are Here » Heartburn Information » What is Heartburn?
Heartburn Information
Contents of this Article
What is Heartburn?
Almost everyone experiences gastroesophageal reflux at some time, commonly known as heartburn. Heartburn is a painful, burning sensation in the chest or throat.
Millions of adults experience heartburn on a daily basis. Heartburn is caused by stomach acid flowing back up into the esophagus (also spelled oesophagus). When you burp, or bend over, the acid fluid may even be tasted in the back of your mouth. The feeling can last for a few minutes or a few hours. The esophagus is the organ that connects the mouth to the stomach, also called gullet. The esophagus is about 10 inches long in most people.
How it All Works
When you eat, your stomach produces hydrochloric acid (HCl) - an acid made in the stomach - which works with pepsin and other enzymes to break down proteins to help in the digestion of the food you just ate. On average, the stomach produces 2 liters of HCl daily.
Your food passes from your mouth down the esophagus to your stomach. A ringlike valve at the bottom of your esophagus, called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) is the muscle between the esophagus and the stomach. When a person swallows, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxes during swallowing to allow food to pass from the esophagus to the stomach. It stays closed at other times to keep stomach contents from flowing back up into the esophagus. If the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) doesn't close or stays relaxed more frequently than normal, acid and food particles seep out of the stomach and up into the esophagus. This is called reflux. The stomach acid can irritate the esophagus. This is the cause of heartburn.
Occasional heartburn is usually without serious consequences, but chronic (lasting a long time) or frequent heartburn (episodes occurring from several times a week to several times a day) may be associated with a more severe condition known as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).
Heartburn is so common that it often is not associated with a serious disease like GERD
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
GERD is the flow of the stomach's contents back up into the esophagus. This happens when the muscle between the esophagus and the stomach (the lower esophageal sphincter) is weak or relaxes when it shouldn't.
Heartburn and GERD sound like one and the same, the flow of the stomach's contents back up into the esophagus.
The difference is "occasional" heartburn is usually without serious consequences, as mentioned above, but when heartburn turns into persistent heartburn, having heartburn more often than you should, and you have been using antacids for more than 2 weeks, it is time to see a doctor. Persistent, everyday heartburn can lead to damage and scarring in the esophagus. You may want to visit an internist - a doctor who specializes in internal medicine - or a gastroenterologist - a doctor who treats diseases of the stomach and intestines.
GERD Can Cause Serious Complications
- Erosive Esophagitis is one of the more serious forms of gastroesophageal reflux disease. If left untreated, the acid from the stomach can wear away or erode the lining of your esophagus.
- Inflammation of the esophagus from stomach acid causes bleeding or ulcers.
- Scars from tissue damage can narrow the esophagus and make swallowing difficult.
- Some people develop Barrett's esophagus, where cells in the esophageal lining take on an abnormal shape and color, which over time can lead to cancer.
- Also, studies have shown that asthma, chronic cough, and pulmonary fibrosis may be aggravated or even caused by GERD.
Back To Top
|