• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Heartburn

• Overview
• Treatment

Definition:

Heartburn is a painful burning sensation in the esophagus, just below or behind the breastbone. The pain often rises in your chest and may radiate to your neck or throat.

Alternative Names:

Pyrosis; Non-cardiac chest pain

Common Causes:

Almost everyone has occasional heartburn. If you have frequent, ongoing heartburn, you may have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Normally, when food or liquid enters your stomach, a band of muscle at the end of your esophagus (called the lower esophageal sphincter or LES) closes off the esophagus. If this muscle fails to close tightly enough, stomach contents can back up (reflux) into the esophagus. This partially digested material is usually acidic and can irritate the esophagus, causing heartburn and other symptoms.

Heartburn is more likely to occur if you have a hiatal hernia , which is when the top part of the stomach protrudes upward into the chest cavity. This weakens the LES and makes it easier for acid to reflux from the stomach into the esophagus.

Heartburn can be brought on or worsened by pregnancy and by many different medications.

Such drugs include:

• Calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure
• Progestin for abnormal menstrual bleeding or birth control
• Anticholinergics (e.g., for sea sickness)
• Certain bronchodilators for asthma
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Dopamine for Parkinson's disease
• Sedatives for insomnia or anxiety
• Beta blockers for high blood pressure or heart disease

If you suspect that one of your medications may be causing heartburn, talk to your doctor. NEVER change or stop medication you take regularly without talking to your doctor.

References:

DeVault KR, Castell DO. Updated Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. Am J Gastroenterol . 2005;100:190-200.

Smith L. Updated ACG Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of GERD. Am Fam Physician . 2005; 71(12): 2376-2382.

Fass R. Predictors of heartburn during sleep in a large prospective cohort study. Chest . 2005; 127(5): 1658-1666.

McCarthy D. Living with chronic heartburn: insights into its debilitating effects. Gastroenterol Clin North Am . 2003; 32(3 Suppl): S1-S9.

• Review Date: 5/3/2007
• Reviewed By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Frankford-Torresdale Hospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.