Persistent heartburn can be caused by dietary factors, lifestyle factors, certain medical conditions, and certain medications. The key to long-term recovery is identifying and addressing what’s causing your symptoms.
Heartburn typically lasts between a few minutes and a few hours.1 If your symptoms last longer, occur frequently, or start to worsen, then it could be due to something more serious.
It could feel scary, but in this article, we’ll go over the important facts you need to know about heartburn: what causes it, how to prevent it, and how you can manage it.
What Causes Heartburn to Persist?
Heartburn tends to persist if the issue that’s causing it is not addressed. This means if the cause is a medical condition, treating or managing it properly would be your best bet. If it’s your diet, then eliminating trigger foods and limiting the amount of food you consume in one sitting would be the way to go. If it’s a lifestyle factor, then avoiding them is your best bet.
Getting to the Root: What Causes Heartburn?
As mentioned in the previous section, heartburn persists when its root causes are not addressed. Let’s review what causes heartburn1 so we can get a better idea of how to prevent and manage it:
- Acid reflux and GERD — Heartburn is one of the primary symptoms of both medical conditions.
- A compromised lower esophageal sphincter — When your lower esophageal sphincter is not working properly, it’s easier for the acidic juices in your stomach to flow back into your throat and mouth through the esophagus.
- Certain diets — A diet consisting of a lot of spicy and fatty foods combined with alcoholic, carbonated, caffeinated, and acidic drinks can not only trigger but also exacerbate heartburn.
- Large meals — Aside from consuming drinks and foods that trigger heartburn, eating large quantities of food too quickly can also cause heartburn due to the increased pressure it creates in the stomach.
- Hiatal hernia — This medical condition is known to cause the improper functioning of the lower esophageal sphincter that’s supposed to keep the contents of your stomach from flowing back up.
- Smoking — Heartburn and smoking don’t mix because the latter not only causes increased stomach acid production, but also relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter.2
- Pregnancy — Having a baby may trigger heartburn by causing increased stomach pressure and hormonal changes that are considered possible triggers for the condition.
- Certain medications — Taking muscle relaxants, ibuprofen and other NSAIDs, , and antidepressants may also cause heartburn. That being said, please do not stop taking your doctor-prescribed medications without checking with your doctor first.
- Stress — Some people experience heartburn because of stress due to how the latter can compromise digestion and trigger increased stomach acid production.3
- Certain medical conditions — If you’ve been diagnosed with a connective tissue disorder, gastroparesis, or diabetes, you are also more prone to heartburn.
Keep in mind, however, that heartburn triggers tend to vary from one person to the next. Please consult your doctor to know more.
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To help alleviate the symptoms of heartburn, try eliminating these trigger foods from your diet until you’re fully recovered:
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Getting Quick Relief from Persistent Heartburn
We mentioned that managing persistent heartburn requires you to address its root cause. However, this doesn't mean that there is no way to get heartburn relief. A potent anti-heartburn over-the-counter medicine like Sodium Alginate + Sodium Bicarbonate + Calcium Carbonate (Gaviscon) works in as fast as three minutes and provides effective relief for up to four hours. Sodium Alginate + Sodium Bicarbonate + Calcium Carbonate (Gaviscon) is available at leading drug stores and pharmacies nationwide and on the Reckitt Health and Beauty on Lazada and Reckitt Health Official on Shopee.
Should I See a Doctor for My Persistent Heartburn?
If even after taking over-the-counter medicine and making the necessary dietary and lifestyle changes your heartburn persists or worsens, then you should immediately consult your doctor.
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Heartburn is a common symptom of acid reflux, which, if left untreated can progress to gastroesophageal reflux disease or (GERD). GERD can, in turn, lead to more serious complications. |
Should I See a Doctor for My Persistent Heartburn?
Persistent heartburn can be caused by dietary factors, lifestyle factors, certain medical conditions, and certain medications. While taking an over-the-counter medicine like Sodium Alginate + Sodium Bicarbonate + Calcium Carbonate (Gaviscon) can help provide fast and lasting relief, the key to long-term recovery is addressing the actual cause of the condition.
References:
- Heartburn, available at https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9617-heartburn-overview. Accessed on 4 December 2024.
- Mechanisms of acid reflux associated with cigarette smoking., available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1378332/. Accessed on 21 October 2024.
- Mental stress and gastric acid secretion. Do personality traits influence the response?, available at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2384046/ . Accessed on 21 January 2025.
- Sodium Alginate+Sodium Bicarbonate+Calcium Carbonate (Gaviscon Original Tablets). Available at https://www.gaviscon.com.ph/products/gaviscon-original-tablets/. Accessed 23 Jan 2025.
- GERD Diet: Foods That Help with Acid Reflux (Heartburn). https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/gerd-diet-foods-that-help-with-acid-reflux-heartburn. Accessed 7 Mar 2025
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heartburn/symptoms-causes/syc-20373223 . Accessed 7 Mar 2025
