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Summary
Heartburn is a painful burning feeling in your chest or throat. It happens when stomach acid backs up into your esophagus, the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach.
If you have heartburn more than twice a week, you may have GERD. But you can have GERD without having heartburn.
Pregnancy, certain foods, alcohol, and some medications can bring on heartburn. Treating heartburn is important because over time reflux can damage the esophagus.
Over-the-counter medicines may help. If the heartburn continues, you may need prescription medicines or surgery.
If you have other symptoms such as crushing chest pain, it could be a heart attack. Get help immediately.
Diagnosis and Tests
-
Esophageal pH Test
(National Library of Medicine)
Also in Spanish
- Heartburn or Heart Attack: When to Worry (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
-
Upper GI Series
(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Also in Spanish
Treatments and Therapies
- Antacids and Acid Reducers: OTC Relief for Heartburn and Acid Reflux (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
Related Issues
- Globus (International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Disorders)
- How Can I Deal With Heartburn During Pregnancy? Also in Spanish
- Warning: Aspirin-Containing Antacid Medicines Can Cause Bleeding (Food and Drug Administration) Also in Spanish
Clinical Trials
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Gastroesophageal Reflux
(National Institutes of Health)
-
ClinicalTrials.gov: Heartburn
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Central neuromodulators for patients with functional esophageal disorders: A systematic review...
- Article: Vonoprazan is Efficacious for Treatment of Heartburn in Non-erosive Reflux Disease:...
- Article: Antireflux surgery in patients with gastroesophageal reflux but a negative 24-hour...
- Heartburn -- see more articles
Children
-
Reflux in Children: MedlinePlus Health Topic
(National Library of Medicine)
Also in Spanish
-
Reflux in Infants: MedlinePlus Health Topic
(National Library of Medicine)
Also in Spanish
Patient Handouts
- Bland diet (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Heartburn (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Taking antacids (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.