What Does Heartburn Feel Like? A Guide To Recognizing It!

Do you know what heartburn is and what does it feel like? If you do, how often do you experience it? Do you have any idea how common it is? Most of us have experienced acid reflux and heartburn at certain points in our lives. In some cases, it persists while some find relief without taking any measures to treat it. So, does that mean it’s nothing to worry about?

Being common doesn’t always mean that it is normal. A lot of people think that it is and ignore their symptoms thinking that what’s the worst that could happen. It’s the same with heartburn. Even when the symptoms get severe and it becomes difficult to eat anything at all, people hesitate to seek medical consultation and try to manage it on their own. But is it something you are supposed to take so lightly? Continue reading to find out the answer.   

What Is Heartburn?

Also known as pyrosis or acid indigestion, heartburn is the discomfort or pain caused in the chest due to acid reflux. It is a burning sensation in the esophageal lining, which can also be felt in the heart and can spread to the upper abdomen and throat as it lasts longer. 

Since the main culprit behind this condition is stomach acid, it could happen to anybody. However, individuals belonging to certain categories or following certain food habits have a higher risk of developing this condition.

It is more common in those who eat spicy food, those who are taking certain medications such as blood pressure or asthma medications, pregnant women, those who smoke, and overweight individuals.

Heartburn is more common than you would think as it affects about 800 million people worldwide and in the United States alone, more than 60 million people experience this condition on a regular basis.

What It’s Like To Experience Heartburn

As previously stated, heartburn is a burning sensation caused by acid in the chest area and upper abdomen. It usually occurs after a meal with increased chances if it is a spicy one. Heartburn occurs mostly during the night time, especially if you are lying down since in that position gravity doesn’t work in your favor and slows down the movement of food down the digestive tract. The same happens when you bend over, causing the stomach acid to move up the pipe and make the pain worse.  

The severity of pain may vary and at a higher level of pain, it could be mistaken for cardiac arrest. Also, the sensation could spread to nearby areas of the neck or throat and all over the upper abdomen. Heartburn could also manifest as a bitter or acidic taste in the mouth, chest pain, hiccups, bloating, nausea, vomiting, sudden weight loss, difficulty swallowing, sore throat, and in more severe cases, bleeding. 

What Causes Heartburn?

The root cause of heartburn is the weakening of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) muscles. This is a group of muscles at the bottom of the organ that is supposed to stay closed once you swallow your food. In people with heartburn or acid reflux issues, it doesn’t close fully, letting the acid with or without the food you have eaten back up through the food pipe. 

Acid reflux can be triggered due to many different things. It could either be your health condition or the food you have eaten. Either way, when the acid backs up, it will irritate and sometimes cause inflammation in the esophagus, resulting in heartburn.  

Heartburn Management And Treatment

Heartburn can be effectively managed up to an extent by bringing certain changes in your lifestyle and eating habits. You might need medication in certain cases, but if taken seriously in the beginning stages, these changes might be enough to deal with it.

• Avoid trigger foods: The first step would be to stop eating or moderate the intake of trigger foods. It could be anything overly spicy, coffee, alcohol, garlic, foods with high acid content, or even chocolate. If you can’t cut them out all at once, control the intake and maintain it.
• Modify workout: Although exercise is necessary for a healthy body and mind, individuals with acidity need to opt for something low-impact instead of rigorous cardio, especially after having a meal. Remember, bending over even when you exercise could trigger the condition and this should be considered in your choice of exercise.  
• Sleep: There are a few things that you need to remember when it comes to sleep. Either use a pillow or elevate your bed a little when you are lying down especially if you are someone who experiences heartburn at night. Also, have your last meal of the day at least 2 to 5 hours before going to bed. 
• Weight management: Obesity is often a cause of increased acidity and heartburn. Weight gain puts a lot of pressure on the stomach and causes it to push the acid up, resulting in acid reflux. Managing a healthy weight could help with this issue to an extent by taking away the pressure on the abdomen. 

Is Heartburn Serious?

Although the severity of heartburn is much lower than cardiac arrest, it is still quite serious at times. Heartburn that occurs occasionally and doesn’t affect your day-to-day life can be managed with a few lifestyle changes. However, if it happens more often and comes with more serious consequences, it is something to worry about. The condition could interfere with your sleep, food intake, movement, and everything related to your health.    

When To Consult A Doctor?

Heartburn doesn’t always require a medical consultation or prescription medications. But there are certain conditions at which you definitely need to seek medical help to treat it more effectively.

• If you are heavily dependent on non-prescription medication or when they have stopped working.
• If your heartburns are more frequent and painful
• If you experience more severe symptoms like vomiting, difficulty breathing and swallowing, sudden weight loss, or weight gain

Conclusion

Heartburn is a condition associated with indigestion. It is caused by the backing up of stomach acid up the esophageal pipe due to a partially opened lower esophageal sphincter. Although heartburn is a quite common condition, certain risk groups might experience more frequent occurrences with more serious symptoms. It could be a painful experience that interferes with one’s daily routine, interrupting physical activities, food intake, and even sleep. 

Certain food items like coffee, chocolate, acidic fruits, dairy, alcohol, and spicy condiments could trigger heartburn. It has an increased chance of occurrence in pregnant women or individuals taking certain medications. Although mild heartburn can be managed on your own, it is recommended to consult a physician as the symptoms get severe and get it treated with prescription medications. 

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