what is "heart burn"?

An esophageal symptom consisting of a retrosternal sensation of warmth or burning occurring in waves and tending to rise upward toward the neck; it may be accompanied by a reflux of fluid into the mouth (water brash). It is often associated with gastroesophageal reflux. Called also pyrosis.

Heartburn is a feeling of burning, warmth, heat, or pain that often starts in the upper abdomen just beneath the lower breastbone (sternum). This discomfort may spread in waves upward into your throat, and you may have a sour taste in your mouth. Heartburn is sometimes called indigestion, acid regurgitation, sour stomach, or pyrosis. It is not caused by problems with your heart, although sometimes heart problems can feel like heartburn.

Heartburn may cause problems with swallowing, burping, nausea, or bloating. These symptoms can sometimes last up to 2 hours or longer. In some people, heartburn symptoms may cause sleep problems, a chronic cough, asthma, wheezing, or choking episodes.

Heartburn usually is worse after eating or made worse by lying down or bending over. It gets better if you sit or stand up.

Almost everyone will have troubles with heartburn now and then.

Heartburn occurs more frequently in adults than in children. Many women have heartburn every day when they are pregnant. This is because the growing uterus puts increasing upward pressure on the stomach.

Symptoms of heartburn and symptoms of a heart attack may feel the same. Occasionally, a person may dismiss serious symptoms as "just gas or indigestion." If you have a history of heart problems or risk factors for a heart attack, your heartburn symptoms may indicate a more serious problem and need to be checked by your doctor.

Dyspepsia is a medical term that is used to describe a vague feeling of fullness, gnawing, or burning in the chest or upper abdomen, especially after eating. A person may describe this feeling as "gas." Other symptoms may occur at the same time, such as belching, rumbling noises in the abdomen, increased flatus, poor appetite, and a change in bowel habits. Causes of dyspepsia can vary from minor to serious.

Heart burn is a discomfort or pain caused by the stomach contents traveling up from the stomach up into the gullet (lower part of your esophagus). The gullet is not made to withstand acid and is irritated and inflamed when acid from the stomach travels up into it.

Sometimes the pain caused by heart burn can also be felt in the mid-line of the back.

Heartburn has nothing to do with the heart. Heart burn is a digestive problem. Heart burn is usually related to meals and posture and can often be relieved by remedies for indigestion. Most people suffer from heart burn at one time or another during their lifetime.

If you have heartburn, you might have a bitter taste in your mouth from stomach acid.

Heart burn is also called reflux oesophagitis.

What are the Symptoms of Heart Burn?

The main symptoms are: burning sensation in the center of the chest and belching.

What Causes Heart Burn?

Heart burn is caused by a faulty muscle in the stomach. There is a "flap" at the top of the stomach that stops food from traveling back up into the esophagus. Sometimes the flap doesn't work properly and stomach acid escapes from the stomach. When the acid escapes, heartburn occurs.

Factors that contribute to Heart burn: pregnancy, smoking, eating large meals, being overweight, and wearing tight clothing around the waist.

Is Heart Burn Caused by Hiatal Hernia?

Hiatal hernia is a very common condition. It occurs when the stomach partially sits in the chest cavity through a weakness in the diaphragm. Sometimes, a persistent hiatal hernia can cause heartburn. However, many people who experience heartburn do not have a hiatal hernia. Also, many people with a hiatal hernia do not experience heartburn. Your doctor can determine if heartburn is caused by a hiatal hernia.

Heart Burn Statistics

In the United States, about 50% of the population has heart burn at least once a month. About 7% of the population has heart burn daily.

How is Heart Burn Treated?

Heart burn can be treated by antacids or medication provided by your doctor.

Complications of Heart Burn

If heart burn is not controlled, it can cause serious complications. Some common complications of heart burn are:

Esophagitis

Esophageal bleeding

Esophageal ulcer

Barrett's esophagus

Strictures

Increased risk of esophageal cancer

burn is a discomfort or pain caused by the stomach contents traveling up from the stomach up into the gullet (lower part of your esophagus). The gullet is not made to withstand acid and is irritated and inflamed when acid from the stomach travels up into it.

Sometimes the pain caused by heart burn can also be felt in the mid-line of the back.

Heartburn has nothing to do with the heart. Heart burn is a digestive problem. Heart burn is usually related to meals and posture and can often be relieved by remedies for indigestion. Most people suffer from heart burn at one time or another during their lifetime.

In medical Parlance known ad GERD (Gastro Esophaegal Reflux Disorder). We often call it acidity. Happens when there is indigestion and there is a reflux in the reverse route (ie., stomach towards esophagus). The strong acids cause irritation in the esophagus and a burning sensation in the chest. Hence Heart Burn.

No it is not related with heart.

It can be treated with simple antacids like Gelusil or Polycrol.

Heartburn or pyrosis is a painful or burning sensation in the esophagus, just below the breastbone caused by regurgitation of gastric acid. [1] The pain often rises in the chest and may radiate to the neck, throat, or angle of the jaw. Heartburn is also identified as one of the causes of asthma and chronic cough.

Heartburn actually has nothing to do with the heart; it is so called because of a burning sensation of the breastbone, although some heart problems have a similar sensation to heartburn.

Pathophysiology

The sensation of heartburn is caused by exposure of the lower esophagus to the acidic contents of the stomach. Normally, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) separating the stomach from the esophagus is supposed to contract to prevent this situation. If the sphincter relaxes for any reason (as normally occurs during swallowing), stomach contents, mixed with gastric acid, can return into the esophagus. This return is also known as reflux, and may progress to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) if it occurs frequently. Peristalsis, the rhythmic wave of muscular contraction in the esophagus, normally moves food down and past the LES and is responsible for ultimately clearing refluxed stomach contents. In addition, gastric acid can be neutralized by buffers present in saliva.

You could get more information from the link below...

Heart Shaped Box

Heartburn is caused by a lot of things (see link below). These include acid reflux, spicy foods, sweets, certain medications, etc. But they all have to do with the acids your stomach produces and/or the gases that certain foods produce.

It has nothing to do with your heart, but because it starts in the area of your heart, it got it's name. This is also explained in the link below.

However, sometimes a heart problem can feel like heartburn. See your doctor.

Heart burn is a symptom caused by hyperacidity, ie., a condition in which the acid content of the stomach increases abnormally ; untreated, it can lead to ulceration in the stomach and small intestine.Contrary to popular belief, it has no relation to the heart, though it is felt in the chest and abdomen.

It’s not related to your heart at all. It's the acid from your stomach that is backing up into you esophagus and sometimes up into your throat. I’m still not sure why they call it Heart Burn?