Heartburn can be one of the most common conditions experienced by people worldwide, yet not many people can answer the question: What is heartburn? Well, the heartening news is that heartburn has nothing whatsoever to do with heart disease, and is not related to the heart at all. Rather, it is a digestive problem that causes an irritating burning sensation in the chest, just below the breastbone – a kind of feeling as though some acidic content is present in the chest that is constantly rubbing you inside.

That describes in simple terms how one experiences heartburn, but it still does not quite answer the question: What is heartburn? And why exactly does it happen? Here is a brief overview of what is heartburn and what may cause it.

So, what is heartburn?

Heartburn, is by itself not a disease if it occurs occasionally, but could be an indicative symptom of an underlying digestive disorder called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) if it occurs frequently. It will help to understand the root cause of this condition better if we recall some info about the structure of the digestive system.

What is heartburn due to?

A muscular valve, called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), separates the food pipe (esophagus) from the stomach. This LES lies just below the ribcage, slightly to the left of the center. Now, LES is a one-way valve that under normal conditions opens only to allow the food to enter the stomach. Otherwise it remains closed, preventing the acidic contents of the stomach from flowing back into the esophagus.

But if, for some reason or the other, this valve becomes dysfunctional and does not close properly, the gastric acids normally present in the stomach may regurgitate into the esophagus – where they are not supposed to go. And since the esophagus does not have a protective mucus lining, unlike the stomach, the acids start causing a burning sensation, – which if left untreated can lead to ulcerative inflammation in the esophagus. Because of the location of the valve, the burning sensation appears to be in the chest. This acid reflux from the stomach into the esophagus is the root cause of heartburn.

What makes LES dysfunctional?

A host of factors can disrupt the proper functioning of the LES valve or can make it weak, the common ones being overstuffing the stomach with food in a single meal, frequent snacking, obesity, pregnancy, certain foods that relax the valve, and even certain medications. Stress too can do the same by way of increasing the production of gastric acids.

Is heartburn serious?

Though occasional mild heartburn may be treated with antacids, severe heartburn can be quite a pain – literally, because the burning sensation could be accompanied by acute pain that radiates to the neck, throat or even the angle of the jaw. That's the reason many times it is mistaken for heart attack symptoms. Continued irritation of the esophagus can also lead to chronic dry cough. It is always advisable to consult with your doctor to determine the severity of your heartburn.

This a brief overview about heartburn, and hopefully answers your general queries about what is heartburn.