Print OverviewHeartburn is a burning pain in your chest, just behind your breastbone. The pain is often worse after eating, in the evening, or when lying down or bending over. Occasional heartburn is common and no cause for alarm. Most people can manage the discomfort of heartburn on their own with lifestyle changes and nonprescription medications. Heartburn that is more frequent or interferes with your daily routine may be a symptom of a more serious condition that requires medical care.Products & ServicesBook: Mayo Clinic on Digestive Health SymptomsSymptoms of heartburn include: A burning pain in the chest that usually occurs after eating and may occur at night Pain that worsens when lying down or bending over A bitter or acidic taste in the mouth When to see a doctorChest pain may be a symptom of a heart attack. Seek help right away if you have severe chest pain or pressure, especially when combined with pain in the arm or jaw or difficulty breathing. Make an appointment with your health care provider if: Heartburn occurs more than twice a week Symptoms persist despite use of nonprescription medications You have difficulty swallowing You have persistent nausea or vomiting You have weight loss because of poor appetite or difficulty eating More InformationHeartburn or chest pain? Request an appointment There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Get the latest health information from Mayo Clinic delivered to your inbox. Subscribe for free and receive your in-depth guide to digestive health, plus the latest on health innovations and news. You can unsubscribe at any time. Click here for an email preview. Email address ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Subscribe Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest health news, research, and care. If you don’t receive our email within 5 minutes, check your SPAM folder, then contact us at newsletters@mayoclinic.com. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry Causes How heartburn and GERD occur Enlarge image Close How heartburn and GERD occur How heartburn and GERD occur Acid reflux occurs when the sphincter muscle at the lower end of your esophagus relaxes at the wrong time, allowing stomach acid to back up into your esophagus. This can cause heartburn and other signs and symptoms. Frequent or constant reflux can lead to GERD. Heartburn occurs when stomach acid backs up into the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach (esophagus). Typically, when food is swallowed, a band of muscle around the bottom of the esophagus (lower esophageal sphincter) relaxes to allow food and liquid to flow down into the stomach. Then the muscle tightens again. If the lower esophageal sphincter isn't working as it should, stomach acid can flow back up into the esophagus (acid reflux) and cause heartburn. The acid backup may be worse when you're bent over or lying down.More InformationAcid reflux and GERDHeartburn and hiatal hernia Risk factorsCertain foods and drinks can trigger heartburn in some people, including: Spicy foods Onions Citrus products Tomato products, such as ketchup Fatty or fried foods Peppermint Chocolate Alcohol, carbonated beverages, coffee or other caffeinated beverages Large or fatty meals Being overweight or pregnant also can increase your risk of experiencing heartburn. ComplicationsHeartburn that occurs frequently and interferes with your routine is considered gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD treatment may require prescription medications and, occasionally, surgery or other procedures. GERD can seriously damage your esophagus or lead to precancerous changes in the esophagus called Barrett's esophagus. By Mayo Clinic Staff Request an appointment Diagnosis & treatment May 13, 2022 Print Share on: FacebookTwitter Show references Acid reflux. American College of Gastroenterology. https://gi.org/topics/acid-reflux/. Accessed March 1, 2022. Feldman M, et al., eds. Symptom of esophageal disease. In: Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Management. 11th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 1, 2022. Kahrilas PJ. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux in adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed March 1, 2022. What are the warning signs of a heart attack? American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/heart-attack/warning-signs-of-a-heart-attack. Accessed March 1, 2022. Goldman L, et al., eds. Gastrointestinal endoscopy. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 1, 2022. Kahrilas PJ. Pathophysiology of reflux esophagitis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed March 1, 2022. Kahrilas PJ. Medical management of gastroesophageal reflux disease in adults. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed March 1, 2022. Related Acid reflux and GERD Heartburn and hiatal hernia Heartburn or chest pain? How heartburn and GERD occur Show more related content Associated Procedures Upper endoscopy X-ray News from Mayo Clinic Mayo Clinic Healthcare expert offers tips for holiday feasting without the heartburn Dec. 13, 2021, 03:30 p.m. CDT Products & Services Book: Mayo Clinic on Digestive Health HeartburnSymptoms & causesDiagnosis & treatmentDoctors & departments Advertisement Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Advertising & Sponsorship Policy Opportunities Ad Choices Mayo Clinic Press Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic PressMayo Clinic on IncontinenceNEW – Future Care - Mayo Clinic PressNEW – Future CareMayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance - Mayo Clinic PressMayo Clinic on Hearing and BalanceFREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic PressFREE Mayo Clinic Diet AssessmentMayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic PressMayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book CON-20373206 Patient Care & Health Information Diseases & Conditions Heartburn
There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. Get the latest health information from Mayo Clinic delivered to your inbox. Subscribe for free and receive your in-depth guide to digestive health, plus the latest on health innovations and news. You can unsubscribe at any time. Click here for an email preview. Email address ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Subscribe Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Thank you for subscribing Your in-depth digestive health guide will be in your inbox shortly. You will also receive emails from Mayo Clinic on the latest health news, research, and care. If you don’t receive our email within 5 minutes, check your SPAM folder, then contact us at newsletters@mayoclinic.com. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry