Heartburn occurs when food and excess stomach acid backsplash up into the food pipe or esophagus, causing a burning sensation that moves into the upper chest and throat. More than 60 million of Americans suffer from symptoms of heartburn, but about 1 in 14 adults experiences frequent symptoms - which may actually have more serious consequences. If you have heartburn, take this simple quiz:
- Do you have heartburn more than 2 days a week?
- Have you had heartburn symptoms for more than a year?
- Do your symptoms worsen after eating, when bending over, or when lying down?
- Over the past month have you taken an over-the-counter medicine for frequent heartburn?
- Do your heartburn symptoms return when you don't take this medicine?
- Do you experience symptoms that interfere with your normal activities or sleep?
- Do you often have to sleep in an elevated position to reduce the burning and tightness in your chest.
- Do you sometimes have difficulty swallowing solid food?
- Do you experience unexplained symptoms of hoarseness, wheezing, or chronic cough?
If you answered yes to ONE OR MORE of the above questions, your heartburn may be caused by a more serious condition called Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease(GERD).
GERD is a medical condition, not a result of foods you eat or personal habits. For some, acid reflux can cause damage to the esophagus and untreated GERD is now the most common cause of cancer of the esophagus.
The good news is that heartburn can be cured. Your doctor now has access to excellent diagnostic tools and treatments to help evaluate and cure your heartburn - before serious problems occur. If you think you have GERD, call your doctor for an appointment.