Heartburn is a very common condition, which may occur to anyone. It refers to the burning sensation in the esophagus, which is a tube connecting the throat and stomach. The primary cause of heartburn is stomach acid. The food when swallowed combines with enzymes and acids in the stomach for digestion. The stomach has special protective lining cells, which prevent the acid from causing inflammation. This protective lining is not present in the esophagus and hence, when the digestive juices and stomach acid return back to the esophagus due to a malfunction, they can cause a burning sensation and sometimes, damage to the unprotected lining of the esophagus.

Causes of heartburn
The main reason for heartburn is the returning back of digestive juices and stomach acid into the esophagus. The connecting point of esophagus and stomach is juncture called the lower esophageal sphincter. Normally, this sphincter closes when food transfers to the stomach. But if your sphincter is not working properly, then it will not close after the food enters the stomach. The stomach acids then move into the esophagus causing irritation and resulting in heartburn. In some people, heartburn is also caused due to a hiatal hernia. In this condition, a part of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm into the chest. Many women suffer from this condition during their pregnancy as the progesterone hormone affects the functioning of the sphincter. There are various lifestyle choices that may also cause heartburn in many people such as smoking, obesity, excessive coffee intake, consumption of spicy foods, and certain medications.

Symptoms of heartburn 

• After eating or at night, you may feel a burning sensation in the chest.
• If you lie down or bend, this pain will get worse.
• You may feel an acidic or bitter taste in the mouth sometimes.

Treatment methods
There are various treatments for heartburn depending on the frequency and intensity of it. You may start certain changes in your lifestyle that will most probably help you with this condition. You should eat 5 small meals at frequent intervals instead of 3 large meals. You should avoid eating less than an hour before going to sleep as it will cause heartburn. You should also avoid certain things like alcohol, ibuprofen, aspirin, and caffeine. Stopping smoking is essential for getting relief from this condition.

There are certain medications for heartburn that you must have if you are experiencing heartburn symptoms. These medications include antacids, histamine, H2 blockers, and proton pump inhibitors. They are available over the counter and some of them are prescription medicines.

Doctors suggest the option of surgery for some patients of heartburn. These patients include those who do not find any relief from medicines, patients with Barrett’s esophagus and ones in whom reflux is very severe and therefore, can lead to pneumonia, hoarseness, or wheezing.

For the other patients, dietary and lifestyle changes are the go-to since if the proper precautions and measures are taken in time, heartburn can be kept under control.