What does Heartburn feel like?

We have all had that terrible feeling in our chest which makes us uncomfortable and often causes us a bit of pain.

This feeling generally happens after we have had a big meal, overeaten or have a really sedentary lifestyle. While that explains what it feels like when you have heartburn, do you know what is heartburn in general and how can one know the symptoms and the remedy? We will find out.

What Exactly Is A Heartburn? 

Heartburn takes place when the stomach in your acid flows right back inside your esophagus which is also known as food pipe. When this happens you feel an uncomfortable burning feeling which starts right in your chest but steadily moves on to your neck and the throat. This feeling causes the burning sensation as well as a sourish taste which you feel when the acid travels all the to the back of the throat. 

In some cases, the heartburn is just for a few minutes whereas in other cases it is there for hours. This condition is also called as an acid reflux and medically is called gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). If the heartburn just happens occasionally or rarely then you can relieve it by taking over the counter antacids. Though if you have heartburn too often and it becomes really severe then it is not just a heartburn but gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This can only be cured by a doctor.

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What Does Heartburn Feel Like?

If you have ever had heartburn, you would feel a very unpleasant and often painful burning feeling in the chest, right behind the breastbones. This feeling happens right after eating and can last for quite a time ranging from few minutes to several hours. It will also cause chest pain if you partake in any activity that includes bending over, lying down or eating. 

Another sensation is the burning of the throat and the sensation of hot, sour, acidic, or salty tasting fluid which you can feel bubbling up at the back of the throat. It would make it difficult to swallow anything and sometimes would make it difficult for a person even to sit or lie down. Heartburn also causes the sensation of food stuff sticking right in the middle of the chest or at times even the throat.

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Heartburn Symptom Causes 

Several factors can be a cause of heartburn. Even if they may not be the cause, they can certainly add on to the existing acid reflux and make it way worse. Most of these factors are just your eating habits; then this can cause indigestion and cause acid reflux. Even eating food stuff such as onions, chocolate, peppermint, high-fat foods, citrus fruits, garlic, spicy foods, and tomatoes or tomato-based products. If you consume a lot of alcoholic beverages, caffeinated beverages, and carbonated beverages, then you will encounter the problem of heartburn. It is also advisable to not eat your meal just before bedtime.  

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Certain lifestyle habits contribute to heartburn as well such as not being considerate with your eating habits and becoming obese. Another lifestyle habit of watching out for is smoking; this can be one of the main causes of frequent acid reflux. Wearing tight clothes and belts also hinders digestion and must be avoided especially when you are sitting down for a meal. Taking too much stress can be a leading cause of heartburn as stress deteriorates the functioning of digestive organs. You can experience this condition even during pregnancy or because of the intake of certain medicines.  

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