Can heartburn be a sign of something serious?

Can heartburn be a sign of something serious?

Many people think nothing of it. Pop a Tums in your mouth and go on with your day. But frequent heartburn can lead to more serious medical conditions. Heartburn can lead to Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Barrett's Esophagus and, in a very small number of individuals, esophageal cancer.

When should I be worried about heartburn?

If you have heartburn more than twice a week or if it interferes with your life, talk to your doctor. You may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Heartburn is a symptom of GERD. Unlike occasional heartburn, GERD is defined by having heartburn or other reflux-related symptoms at least twice a week.

Why is everything I eat giving me heartburn?

One common cause of acid reflux disease is a stomach abnormality called a hiatal hernia. But if you have a hiatal hernia, acid can move up into your esophagus and cause symptoms of acid reflux disease. These are other common risk factors for acid reflux disease: Eating large meals or lying down right after a meal.

Is it normal to have heartburn everyday?

Generally speaking, heartburn is not serious. An occasional bout of heartburn usually means that the foods the person ate produced too much acid in the stomach. If a persons suffers from heartburn often, or every day, it can be a symptom of a more serious condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD.

Why is my heartburn not going away?

If the symptoms go away the problem is likely have been due to acid reflux. If symptoms do not go away with acid suppressing medications such as Prilosec or other PPI drugs, there are two possible explanations. First, the symptoms may be due to something else other than GERD.

What is the difference between acid reflux and heartburn?

Acid reflux is sometimes called gastroesophageal reflux or GER. It occurs when stomach acid travels up the food pipe to the mouth. Heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest or abdomen, and it has nothing to do with the heart. People often feel heartburn behind the breastbone and after eating.

Do Bananas help with heartburn?

This low-acid fruit can help those with acid reflux by coating an irritated esophageal lining and thereby helping to combat discomfort. One soluble fiber found in bananas is pectin, which helps move stomach contents through your digestive tract.

Why is water giving me heartburn?

Water brash is a symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). If this acid mixes with the excess saliva during reflux, you're experiencing water brash. Water brash usually causes asour taste, or it may taste like bile. You may also experience heartburn with water brash because the acid irritates the throat.

Can constant heartburn be serious?

But frequent heartburn can lead to more serious medical conditions. Heartburn is generally associated with a burning pain in the chest or throat. Heartburn can lead to Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Barrett's Esophagus and, in a very small number of individuals, esophageal cancer.

Is heartburn a sign of heart attack?

Heartburn itself can accompany other symptoms of heart attack. Typical heart attack signs and symptoms include: Pressure, tightness, pain, or a squeezing or aching sensation in your chest or arms that may spread to your neck, jaw or back. Nausea, indigestion, heartburn or abdominal pain.

Do bananas cause heartburn?

A: Ripe bananas have a pH of about 5, making them a mildly acidic food. That does not mean that bananas cause heartburn or reflux, however. Decades ago, Indian researchers tested banana powder and found it helpful for relieving symptoms of indigestion (The Lancet, March 10, 1990).

Does stress cause heartburn?

Stress also can contribute to reflux by causing heartburn sufferers to engage in behaviors that trigger acid production (i.e., turning to high-fat comfort foods, smoking, drinking caffeine, or eating late at night). In addition, stress may increase a person's sensitivity to the pain caused by a heartburn episode.

Can heartburn kill you?

Although occasional acid reflux won't kill you, it should still be taken seriously. If left untreated, chronic acid reflux can lead to conditions that increase your risk for developing esophageal cancer, which can in fact kill you.