Heart burn is what we call the discomfort/pain that is caused by the contents of the stomach as they travel up into the lower part of the esophagus, also known as the gullet. The burning sensation that is felt is due to the acidic nature of the contents of our stomach, which the gullet is not meant to withstand.
The presence of the acid in the gullet causes it to become irritated and imflamed. The lower part of our esophagus is in the central chest region, which is why it is dubbed "heart burn". It is important to note that sometimes the pain can also be felt in the upper mid section of the back; and that heartburn as nothing to do with the heart!
There is several different things that can cause heartburn with the most simple being what we eat and how we eat it. There is several different types of over the counter solutions to help relieve heartburn and indigestion.
Some factors that might contribute to heart burn are:
- pregnancy
- smoking
- eating large meals
- being overweight
- tight clothing around the waste
It is important to control heartburn, because if left untreated it can cause serious problems. Some examples of implications that can be caused by untreated heartburn are: esophagitis, esophageal, bleeding, Barrett's esophagus, and strictures. Generally heartburn can be easily treated by antacids or medication provided by your doctor, so it's not worth the risk.