What Causes Heartburn and Acid Reflux? Symptoms, Treatments, and Prevention

Heartburn happens when acid from the stomach goes up into the esophagus, causing a burning feeling. It can also be due to too much stomach acid. Most of the time, heartburn starts after eating a heavy meal, but many other things can cause it too.

What Causes Heartburn and Acid Reflux? Symptoms, Treatments, and Prevention

Main Causes of Heartburn and Acid Reflux

Here are some common reasons why people get heartburn or acid reflux:

• Eating fatty foods, or certain foods like coffee, vinegar, spicy food.
• Stress or not eating for too long (hunger).
• Exercising right after eating.

👉 These causes usually lead to occasional heartburn.

But sometimes, heartburn becomes chronic (regular) because of other risks like:

• Pregnancy.
• Being overweight.
• Certain medicines.
• Hiatal hernia (a small part of the stomach pushes up through the diaphragm).

🔥 Common Symptoms of Heartburn

The main symptom of heartburn is a burning pain in the chest or stomach. This pain:

• Gets worse when lying down or bending forward.
• Can move up to the sternum (middle of the chest) and even the throat.
• Can cause a bitter or sour taste from acid coming up (called acid regurgitation).

Other symptoms to watch for:

• Frequent coughing, especially at night.
• Chest pain.
• Hoarse voice.
• Frequent burping.

🩺 How Is Heartburn Diagnosed?

Doctors usually diagnose heartburn by:

1. Asking questions about your symptoms (medical interview).
2. Physical exam.

If the problem doesn’t go away with simple treatments, or if it's very painful, a doctor might send you to a gastroenterologist.

👉 They may do tests like:

• Endoscopy (looking inside the stomach and esophagus).
• Gastroscopy/fibroscopy to confirm if it’s acid reflux or something else.

✅ How to Relieve Heartburn or Stomach Pain

Foods that help:

• Cooked vegetables.
• Non-acidic fruits (avoid oranges, lemons).
• Fish.
• Starches (like rice, pasta).

✅ Foods high in antioxidants are great for reducing stomach burns.

Foods to avoid:

❌ Fatty foods, spicy meals, creamy sauces, whole milk products.

Medications for heartburn:

• Antacids (for quick relief, but only sometimes).
• Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for longer relief.
• Homeopathy can also help, but ask a doctor first.

👉 Most of the time, heartburn goes away on its own, but if it’s too painful or comes back often, medicines may be needed.

🍽️ How to Prevent Heartburn: What to Eat and Avoid

Tips to avoid heartburn:

1. Lose weight if overweight — extra weight puts pressure on the stomach.
2. Avoid alcohol and coffee — they increase stomach acid.
3. Stop smoking — smoking makes heartburn worse.
4. Eat healthy and live healthy — balanced meals, regular exercise, good sleep.

⚠️ Possible Complications of Frequent Heartburn

Usually, heartburn is not dangerous, but if it happens often and is untreated, it can cause:

• Stomach ulcers.
• Esophagitis (inflamed esophagus).
• Peptic stricture (narrowing of the esophagus).
• Barrett’s esophagus (serious change in esophagus cells).

👉 See a doctor if you have heartburn twice a week or more, or if you notice:

• Weight loss.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Anemia signs (tiredness, weakness).
• Bleeding (vomiting blood or black stools).

✅ Medical and Health Sources:

1. Mayo Clinic - "Heartburn and GERD: Causes and Treatments." https://www.mayoclinic.org
2. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) - "Acid Reflux (GER & GERD)." https://www.niddk.nih.gov
3. American College of Gastroenterology - "Understanding GERD." https://gi.org
4. Cleveland Clinic - "Heartburn and Reflux Management." https://my.clevelandclinic.org