Heartburn: A Comprehensive Overview
*Introduction - Heartburn is a common digestive condition characterized by a burning sensation in the chest, just behind the breastbone. It typically occurs after eating and may be worse at night or when lying down or bending over. Although the term “heartburn” suggests a cardiac origin, it is unrelated to the heart. Instead, heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux, where stomach acid flows back into the esophagus. What Is Heartburn? Heartburn occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus — the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach. This backward flow, known as acid reflux , irritates the lining of the esophagus and causes the characteristic burning sensation. Occasional heartburn is common and usually not a cause for alarm. However, frequent or chronic heartburn may indicate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) . Anatomy and Physiology To understand heartburn, it's important to understand the role of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) . This rin...