Health encyclopaedia

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Heartburn

Heartburn is a form of indigestion. It is usually felt as a pain behind the breastbone. Heartburn has nothing to do with the heart, although pain is felt in this region. People who get very painful heartburn sometimes think they are having a heart attack. Severe heartburn should be checked out by a doctor to ensure it is not symptom of a more serious condition.

Heartburn is linked to eating habits and posture. It happens when acid from the stomach gets forced upwards into the tube that food is passed down (gullet, or oesophagus). The walls of the gullet are not protected by the layer of mucus that the stomach has. Instead, the acid irritates the lining of the gullet, causing the burning pain. The regurgitated acid may also leave an acidic taste in the back of your throat.

Heartburn is usually relieved by over-the-counter medicines for indigestion.

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