Heartburn: Root Causes and Prevention Tips

When it comes to heartburn, knowing the causes, symptoms, treatments, medications, and signs to see a doctor is crucial not only to recovery, but to preventing the condition as well.

If you’re feeling a burning sensation in your chest or throat that tends to worsen after eating or when you bend over or lie down, you probably have heartburn. Today, we’ll take a look at what causes it, what symptoms you should watch out for, and how you can treat and prevent it. 

Heartburn: A Symptom of Acid Reflux or GERD

Heartburn is characterized by a burning sensation in the chest or throat¹ typically caused by stomach acid flowing back up the esophagus and into the throat and mouth. It is a symptom of acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. 

Aside from the burning sensation, the two other most common heartburn symptoms¹ are: 

• Sour or bitter taste in the mouth due to the backflow of acidic stomach juices
• Regurgitation of the food in the stomach

What Causes Heartburn?

Aside from acid reflux and GERD, the most common causes of heartburn¹ are: 

• Weakness in the lower esophageal sphincter — When the lower esophageal sphincter malfunctions, it becomes less effective at keeping the contents of the stomach from flowing back up the esophagus.
• Foods that cause heartburn — Fatty, carbonated, spicy, alcoholic, citrus, and caffeinated foods and drinks are all known heartburn triggers.
• Overeating — Aside from consuming trigger foods and drinks, simply eating too much too quickly can also trigger heartburn by causing increased stomach pressure.
• Lying down right after a meal — Doing so makes it easier for the contents of your stomach to go back up into your throat and mouth.
• Certain medical conditions — Hiatal hernia, connective tissue disorders, gastroparesis, and diabetes are all known to cause heartburn.
• Cigarettes — Smoking causes the lower esophageal sphincter to relax and the stomach to produce more acid.
• Pregnancy — Carrying a child not only causes increased stomach pressure, but also triggers hormonal changes associated with heartburn.
• Certain medications — If you’re taking ibuprofen and other NSAIDs, antidepressants, muscle relaxants, and certain blood pressure medications, you’re naturally more prone to experiencing heartburn. That being said, please do not stop taking your doctor-prescribed medications without checking with your doctor first.
• Stressful situations — Heartburn because of stress is due to the body producing more stomach acid² and having trouble digesting food properly when exposed to stressful situations.

Proper heartburn sleeping position is an effective at-home heartburn remedy. 

Find out more  

How to Prevent Heartburn

Heartburn prevention can be broken down into three categories: 

1. Dietary changes — This involves limiting your consumption of trigger foods and drinks. 
2. Lifestyle changes — This involves avoiding activities that can cause heartburn, such as overeating, smoking, and lying down after meals. 
3. Treatment of underlying conditions — This involves getting proper treatment for any heartburn-causing medical conditions you may have been diagnosed with.

How Long Does Heartburn Last?

Depending on the cause and severity of the condition, heartburn can last anywhere from just a few minutes to several hours. However, knowing what to drink for heartburn relief can help alleviate your symptoms more efficiently. 

Taking Sodium Alginate + Sodium Bicarbonate + Calcium Carbonate (Gaviscon) for Heartburn

A quick way to alleviate your symptoms is to take an over-the-counter heartburn medicine like Sodium Alginate + Sodium Bicarbonate + Calcium Carbonate (Gaviscon). It   works in as fast as three minutes and provides effective heartburn relief for up to four hours by:   

• Creating a protective barrier³ that prevents the backflow of stomach acid, pepsin and bile
• Neutralizing stomach acid

In addition to Sodium Alginate + Sodium Bicarbonate + Calcium Carbonate (Gaviscon), however, you can recover by: 

• Limiting or cutting out trigger foods and drinks
• Limiting or completely avoiding trigger activities
• Trying at-home remedies
• Getting proper treatment for any underlying medical conditions that could be causing the issue

When to Seek Professional Heartburn Treatment

You should consider talking to your doctor about your heartburn when your symptoms start interfering with your daily life, you experience heartburn symptoms twice or more in a single week, or you experience any of the following symptoms: 

• Heartburn symptoms twice or more in a single week
• More extreme symptoms such nausea or vomiting
• Sudden weight loss
• Trouble swallowing
• Pain when swallowing
• A lump in your throat
• Prolonged coughing
• Constant choking sensation
• Hoarseness or chronic wheezing
• Worsening asthma
• Severe pain in your stomach
• Irregular pulse
• More than the usual sweating

If you’ve been taking over-the-counter heartburn medicine for over two weeks but symptoms persist, consult your doctor. 

Seek immediate medical assistance if you experience any of the following symptoms since you may be experiencing a heart attack:⁴ 

• Pressure, tightness, pain, or a squeezing or aching sensation in your chest or arms that may spread to your neck, jaw or back
• Shortness of breath
• Cold sweat
• Fatigue
• Lightheadedness or sudden dizziness

The Bottom Line: Understanding Heartburn is Key

When it comes to dealing with heartburn, understanding the triggers, symptoms, treatments, and medications and knowing when to see a doctor are the keys not only to recovery, but also to keeping the condition at bay.