Heartburn Care

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While it can be a symptom of many conditions, heartburn is the sensation usually associated with acid reflux. Acid reflux occurs when acid from the stomach leaks back up into the esophagus. The resulting symptom may be heartburn. People with heartburn feel discomfort or burning in the upper abdomen, below the breastbone. They can also feel burning in the throat, have difficulty swallowing or develop a chronic cough.

Patients with severe heartburn may experience heart attack-like symptoms, which may be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a serious condition resulting from untreated chronic heartburn.

The acid that triggers heartburn symptoms can actually do damage to the esophagus.

Heartburn During Pregnancy
Many pregnant women will experience heartburn due to the increased pressure on their abdomen. Also, the change in hormones can trigger acid reflux. Most women report heartburn peaks around the third trimester. Pregnant women can treat and prevent heartburn by changing their diet and lifestyle habits.

For those experiencing occasional or severe heartburn symptoms, talk to your physician so they can help diagnose your pain and develop a treatment plan to alleviate the symptoms.

Screening Tests for Heartburn
With varying stages of heartburn pain, physicians must diagnose the severity of a patient's heartburn symptoms in order to determine the best treatment. More importantly, they must also determine the underlying condition causing heartburn in order to prevent damage.

For most patients with heartburn pain, doctors can diagnose the severity of the heartburn symptoms by listening to the degree of pain, the location of pain and the frequency. Heartburn may be caused by acid reflux, GERD or a more serious condition. For patients with severe heartburn symptoms, these tests may be used to determine the underlying condition causing the pain.

• EGD (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy)—a test for doctors to see damage in the esophagus, stomach or small intestine using a small camera
• Esophageal pH monitoring—a test of the amount of time acid stays in the esophagus
• X-rays
• Esophageal manometry—a measure of the pressure of muscle contractions

For patients experiencing frequent, severe heartburn symptoms, physicians can help diagnose your pain and help you find relief.

Heartburn Facts
For heartburn sufferers, it's important to understand the cause of heartburn pain in order to find relief from the pain. Lifestyle changes and dietary changes can help, but understanding the underlying cause can help to establish a treatment plan that works.

• Almost everyone will experience heartburn at some point in their lives.
• More than 40% of Americans suffer from heartburn pain at least one time each month.
• Almost 95% of people with heartburn link their symptoms to a particular food.
• Only 20% of heartburn happens during the day — the majority of people report feeling symptoms at night.
• More than 50% of pregnant women report heartburn — most in the third trimester.
• Infants can experience acid reflux, but they usually grow out of it.

These statistics prove heartburn is a widespread symptom.