Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsThe BreakdownWhat Is Heartburn?What Is Acid Reflux?What Is GERD?PreventionWhen to Talk to Your Healthcare ProviderFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
The Breakdown
What Is Heartburn?
What Is Acid Reflux?
What Is GERD?
Prevention
When to Talk to Your Healthcare Provider
Frequently Asked Questions
Heartburn, acid reflux, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are related, and the terms are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same.
Heartburnis a symptom ofacid refluxthat occurs when gastric juices back up from the stomach into the esophagus (food pipe), irritating the cells that line it. This can cause a burning sensation in the chest, which is where the term “heartburn” comes from. In addition to heartburn, acid reflux can cause you to develop symptoms such as a cough, bad breath, and trouble swallowing.
Repeated episodes of heartburn usually signal thepresence of GERD. If left untreated, GERD can cause a number of medical complications such asthroat cancer,Barrett’s esophagus, and inflammation of the esophagus (esophagitis).
This article will discuss the similarities and differences among heartburn, acid reflux, and GERD.
Heartburn is asymptomof acid reflux and GERD. Occasional acid reflux is not concerning and usually goes away on its own, but repeated bouts of GERD can have dangerous medical consequences and should be addressed immediately.
Symptoms
There is a wide range of heartburn triggers that may result in a variety of symptoms, including:
Treating Acid Reflux and Back Pain Together
Causes
Some of the mechanisms that can contribute to heartburn include direct irritation of the esophagus, weakness of theloweresophageal sphincter(LES),motility disorders of the digestive tractthat result in delayed gastric emptying, andhiatal hernia(upper part of your stomach bulges through an opening in the diaphragm).
Treatment
If you have heartburn on occasion, it may be hard to determine the exact cause of your symptoms. It might help to think about the foods you ate, the activities you were doing, the clothes you were wearing, and the medications, if any, that you took prior to feeling your symptoms.
Your treatment will depend on the cause. If the cause is a food that you ate, you might want to take an over-the-counter (OTC) medication like TUMS (antacid) or Pepto Bismol (bismuth subsalicylate) and avoid that food moving forward.
Loosening your clothes and not lying down after a meal may also help. If you were smoking or drinking excessively, the passing of time may be enough to resolve your symptoms.
Heartburn Relief: Natural Antacids, Medication, Prevention
The symptoms of acid reflux are similar to heartburn. They include:
Acid reflux is a digestive disorder that occurs when stomach contents back up into your esophagus. The most common cause of this is a weakening of the lower esophageal sphincter that allows food content and gastric juices to backflow and irritates the lining of your food pipe.
Acid reflux is usually most effectively treated with a combination of lifestyle changes, prescription or OTC medication, and natural or herbal remedies.
The combination of GERD treatment you use is based on the severity of your symptoms and what works best for you. It is recommended that you consult with a healthcare professional to figure out the pros and cons of each treatment method and to figure out the best way to achieve your treatment goals.
If you have occasional acid reflux and you’re looking for relief, it is likely that over-the-counter medications and avoiding the trigger of your heartburn will likely do the trick. You may want to consult your healthcare provider on which type of acid reflux treatment to take, but generally, these are safe and have minimal side effects. Some of the medications that might be used include:
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The following natural remedies and lifestyle changes may also be helpful:
Which Acid Reflux Medicine Should I Use?
GERD symptoms are similar to heartburn andacid reflux symptoms, except with a few additional symptoms due to the chronic nature of the disease.
Repeated bouts of acid reflux result in GERD. Over time, damaged cells in the esophagus can cause narrowing of the esophagus, sores (ulcers), inflammation, and even permanent genetic changes to the cells that line it.
If left untreated, GERD can have serious medical consequences, including cancer, so it must be addressed immediately.
The frequency and severity of your symptoms will typically determine whether you need to make lifestyle changes, take medicines, or both to manage symptoms of GERD.
Your healthcare provider may recommend medication. These can include some of the same medications used for acid reflux:
Knowing the risk factors that contribute to GERD and the triggers that cause exacerbations—like spicy foods, high caffeine intake, obesity, and smoking—can help you avoid GERD and reduce your need for medication.
If you have recurrent GERD, the following lifestyle changes may also reduce your symptoms and increase your quality of life:
Foods to Help GERD Symptoms: What to Eat and What to Avoid
An occasional bout of acid reflux is common and usually of little concern. Repeated bouts of acid reflux can signal GERD, a highly preventable condition that can be prevented with a combination of lifestyle modifications and medication. The following steps can prevent GERD:
Heartburn is common and usually goes away on its own, but if worrisome signs accompany your symptoms, persist for more than a few hours despite treatment, or cause you concern, do not ignorehow heartburn feels.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical attention to rule out more serious possible causes of your pain like aheart attackorpulmonary embolism:
Summary
A Word From Verywell
Acid reflux and GERD can both cause heartburn, but GERD, or repeated bouts of acid reflux, is a much more serious condition that must be addressed. Knowing the differences among the three is key to appropriately addressing your symptoms so that you can avoid potential complications down the line.
Frequently Asked QuestionsMilk does not “coat” the stomach to protect it from stomach acid as some people might think. In fact, the high fat content of dairy products, likewhole milk, stimulates acid production in the stomach which can trigger acid reflux.Heartburn can last anywhere from several minutes to a few hours, depending on the underlying cause.Acid reflux can feel like a burning or gnawing sensation in your chest, sometimes called heartburn, but no two people have the same exact symptoms. Some people may feel like they have a lump in their throat, have difficulty swallowing, or experience bad breath, while others may experience nausea, bloating, and upper abdominal discomfort.Caffeine-free herbal teas such as chamomile or ginger tea may relieve acid reflux symptoms, because they serve as digestive aids. Peppermint and mint teas should be avoided as they may trigger or exacerbate your heartburn symptoms.There is a wide range of foods that can help relieve your heartburn symptoms. Watery foods like watermelon, soups, cucumber, and celery can dilute acid in the stomach, and low pH (alkaline) foods like bananas and cauliflower can help offset a buildup of stomach acid.GERD can usually be diagnosed with just a physical examination and a review of a detailed history of your symptoms, but if there’s any uncertainty or concern about potential complications a healthcare provider may suggest testing such as anupper endoscopy, an ambulatory acid (pH) monitoring examination,esophageal manometry, or abarium swallow radiograph.Learn MoreHow GERD Is Diagnosed
Milk does not “coat” the stomach to protect it from stomach acid as some people might think. In fact, the high fat content of dairy products, likewhole milk, stimulates acid production in the stomach which can trigger acid reflux.
Heartburn can last anywhere from several minutes to a few hours, depending on the underlying cause.
Acid reflux can feel like a burning or gnawing sensation in your chest, sometimes called heartburn, but no two people have the same exact symptoms. Some people may feel like they have a lump in their throat, have difficulty swallowing, or experience bad breath, while others may experience nausea, bloating, and upper abdominal discomfort.
Caffeine-free herbal teas such as chamomile or ginger tea may relieve acid reflux symptoms, because they serve as digestive aids. Peppermint and mint teas should be avoided as they may trigger or exacerbate your heartburn symptoms.
There is a wide range of foods that can help relieve your heartburn symptoms. Watery foods like watermelon, soups, cucumber, and celery can dilute acid in the stomach, and low pH (alkaline) foods like bananas and cauliflower can help offset a buildup of stomach acid.
GERD can usually be diagnosed with just a physical examination and a review of a detailed history of your symptoms, but if there’s any uncertainty or concern about potential complications a healthcare provider may suggest testing such as anupper endoscopy, an ambulatory acid (pH) monitoring examination,esophageal manometry, or abarium swallow radiograph.Learn MoreHow GERD Is Diagnosed
GERD can usually be diagnosed with just a physical examination and a review of a detailed history of your symptoms, but if there’s any uncertainty or concern about potential complications a healthcare provider may suggest testing such as anupper endoscopy, an ambulatory acid (pH) monitoring examination,esophageal manometry, or abarium swallow radiograph.
Learn MoreHow GERD Is Diagnosed
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cedars-Sinai.Heartburn and acid reflux: what you need to know.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GER & GERD.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn treatment.Harvard Health Publishing.Herbal remedies for heartburn.Keshteli AH, Shaabani P, Tabibian SR, Saneei P, Esmaillzadeh A, Adibi P.The relationship between fruit and vegetable intake with gastroesophageal reflux disease in Iranian adults.J Res Med Sci. 2017;22:125. doi:10.4103/jrms.JRMS_283_17National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diagnosis of GER & GERD.Harvard Health Publishing.9 at-home treatments for acid reflux.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Cedars-Sinai.Heartburn and acid reflux: what you need to know.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GER & GERD.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn treatment.Harvard Health Publishing.Herbal remedies for heartburn.Keshteli AH, Shaabani P, Tabibian SR, Saneei P, Esmaillzadeh A, Adibi P.The relationship between fruit and vegetable intake with gastroesophageal reflux disease in Iranian adults.J Res Med Sci. 2017;22:125. doi:10.4103/jrms.JRMS_283_17National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diagnosis of GER & GERD.Harvard Health Publishing.9 at-home treatments for acid reflux.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Cedars-Sinai.Heartburn and acid reflux: what you need to know.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GER & GERD.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn treatment.Harvard Health Publishing.Herbal remedies for heartburn.Keshteli AH, Shaabani P, Tabibian SR, Saneei P, Esmaillzadeh A, Adibi P.The relationship between fruit and vegetable intake with gastroesophageal reflux disease in Iranian adults.J Res Med Sci. 2017;22:125. doi:10.4103/jrms.JRMS_283_17National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diagnosis of GER & GERD.Harvard Health Publishing.9 at-home treatments for acid reflux.
Cedars-Sinai.Heartburn and acid reflux: what you need to know.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GER & GERD.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn treatment.
Harvard Health Publishing.Herbal remedies for heartburn.
Keshteli AH, Shaabani P, Tabibian SR, Saneei P, Esmaillzadeh A, Adibi P.The relationship between fruit and vegetable intake with gastroesophageal reflux disease in Iranian adults.J Res Med Sci. 2017;22:125. doi:10.4103/jrms.JRMS_283_17
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Diagnosis of GER & GERD.
Harvard Health Publishing.9 at-home treatments for acid reflux.
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