What is heartburn?
Despite its name, heartburn doesn’t affect the heart. Heartburn is a burning feeling in the lower chest, along with a sour or bitter taste in the throat and mouth. Heartburn is also called acid reflux disease or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The feeling can last for a few minutes or a few hours.
Can heartburn be serious?
If you have heartburn only now and then, it’s probably not serious. However, if heartburn goes on long enough, it can lead to esophagitis (an inflamed lining of the esophagus). If the esophagitis becomes severe, your esophagus might narrow and you might have bleeding or trouble swallowing.
Things that can make heartburn worse:
- Tobacco use
- Coffee (both regular and decaffeinated) and other drinks that contain caffeine
- Alcohol
- Citrus fruits
- Tomato products
- Chocolate, mints, or peppermints
- Fatty foods or spicy foods (pizza, chili, curry)
- Onions
- Being overweight
- Aspirin or ibuprofen
Tips on preventing heartburn:
- Try to eat at least 2 to 3 hours before lying down.
- Lose weight if you’re overweight.
- Don’t overeat.
- Avoid foods and other things that give you heartburn.
Will antacids take care of heartburn?
Most people get fast, short-term relief with antacids. Antacids neutralize the acid that your stomach makes. Some brands of antacids include Maalox, Mylanta, Tums, and Rolaids. Follow the directions on the package.
What about medicines for heartburn?
Several kinds of medicine can be used to treat heartburn. H2 blockers (some brand names: Pepcid, Tagamet, Zantac) lower how much acid your stomach makes. Several are available without a prescription.
Call your doctor if:
- You have trouble swallowing or pain when swallowing.
- You’re vomiting blood.
- Your stools are bloody or black.
- You have heartburn often (more than 3 times a week) for over 2 weeks.