Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFood and Eating HabitsMedication CausesPregnancyMedical ConditionsSmokingFactors You Can’t ControlChronic HeartburnPrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Food and Eating Habits
Medication Causes
Pregnancy
Medical Conditions
Smoking
Factors You Can’t Control
Chronic Heartburn
Prevention
Heartburn is common, and adults may experience burning in their chest every so often. Sometimes, it’s clear why heartburn happens. At other times, it may take a while to understand what triggers it. If heartburn occurs too often, it may be a sign of an underlying condition that needs treatment.
Learn more about why heartburn occurs and how to prevent if from recurring.
Why You Have Heartburn: Food and Eating Habits
For some people, certain foods might causeheartburn. Not everyone has the same triggers, but some foods tend to be more frequent offenders than others.
Heartburn
Some foods cause problems because they relax thelower esophageal sphincter (LES). This means that the contents of the stomach (including digestive acids) have the opportunity to come up through the relaxed sphincter into theesophagus(food tube) and cause heartburn.
Common heartburn-triggering foodsinclude:
When and how much you eat may also contribute to your heartburn. Eating large meals and lying down flat too soon afterward may also lead to heartburn.
Waking Up With HeartburnSome peoplewake up with heartburn. This may be due to foods eaten the night or day before, such as a big meal or trigger foods. It could also be from lying flat all night after eating too close to bedtime.
Waking Up With Heartburn
Some peoplewake up with heartburn. This may be due to foods eaten the night or day before, such as a big meal or trigger foods. It could also be from lying flat all night after eating too close to bedtime.
Why You Have Heartburn: Medications
Medications may also cause heartburn in some people. Some drugs irritate the esophagus or cause the LES to relax. This can include:
Why You Have Heartburn: During Pregnancy
Pregnant people may alsoexperience heartburn. This is because the hormones during pregnancy may cause the LES to relax. Plus, as the fetus continues to grow and puts pressure on organs, it can push the stomach contents up into the esophagus.
Everything You Need to Know About Heartburn
Why You Have Heartburn: Underlying Medical Conditions
Ahiatal herniaoccurs when the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm (the muscle dividing the abdominal and chest cavities). This may lead to heartburn. People might not always know they have this type of hernia, especially if it is small.
People with overweight or obesity may also experience heartburn more often. Increased pressure on the stomach can cause the contents to back up into the esophagus.
PMS and HeartburnOne study showed that people who experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS) commonly report digestive symptoms.Some people might have heartburn or indigestion, although it’s unclear how common it is or what might cause it. It may help to make some changes to your diet and lifestyle while experiencing PMS.
PMS and Heartburn
One study showed that people who experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS) commonly report digestive symptoms.Some people might have heartburn or indigestion, although it’s unclear how common it is or what might cause it. It may help to make some changes to your diet and lifestyle while experiencing PMS.
You Might Have Heartburn From Smoking
Smoking might also lead to frequent heartburn. Smoking has several effects on the throat. It might cause the LES to weaken, causing stomach contents to back up. Plus, smoking might prevent bile salts from moving into the stomach, which leaves the stomach’s contents more acidic.
In addition, the esophagus might become irritated from smoking. The irritation might make the esophagus more susceptible to damage.
Does Nicotine Keep You Awake?
Making lifestyle changes (such as what, when, and how much you eat) may help to avoid some cases of heartburn. However, some potential factors may be out of your control. This includes medical conditions mentioned previously, such as a hernia, an ulcer, or esophagitis.
In some cases, treating an underlying medical condition might relieve your frequent heartburn. If you’ve tried making changes and heartburn is still happening more than once a week or is disrupting your sleep or daily living, talk to a healthcare provider.
Why Do I Get Heartburn at Night? Causes and Treatment
Why Some People Have Chronic Heartburn
Heartburn is a common condition that can happen to anyone on occasion. When it occurs frequently, it is considered chronic. Chronic heartburn is a symptom ofgastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Symptoms of GERDinclude:
How to Get Ahead of Heartburn
Preventing heartburnoften includes making some lifestyle changes, including the following:
Managing underlying conditions can help control your heartburn. Talk to a healthcare provider about how often heartburn occurs. Also, try keeping a log of food, activities, medications, and other factors that may trigger heartburn to find patterns.
Summary
Heartburn can occur from time to time for many reasons. Sometimes, its cause can be determined and triggers can be avoided. This may include making changes to your diet and lifestyle. If heartburn is related to a chronic condition, it could take time to get a diagnosis and treatment.
If a medication you take for an unrelated condition is contributing to your heartburn, ask your healthcare provider about alternatives. Also speak to your provider about treatment and prevention.
10 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.Johns Hopkins Medicine.GERD diet: foods that help with acid reflux (heartburn).Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Treatment. HopkinsMedicine.org. 2023.Harvard Health Publishing.9 at-home treatments for acid reflux.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hiatal hernia.University of Chicago Medicine.GERD and obesity.National Health Service U.K.Stomach ulcer.MedlinePlus.Eosinophilic esophagitis.Bernstein MT, Graff LA, Avery L, et al.Gastrointestinal symptoms before and during menses in healthy women.BMC Womens Health. 2014;14:14. doi:10.1186/1472-6874-14-14National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GER & GERD.Albarqouni L, Moynihan R, Clark J, Scott AM, Duggan A, Del Mar C.Head of bed elevation to relieve gastroesophageal reflux symptoms: a systematic review.BMC Fam Pract. 2021;22:24. doi:10.1186/s12875-021-01369-0
10 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.Johns Hopkins Medicine.GERD diet: foods that help with acid reflux (heartburn).Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Treatment. HopkinsMedicine.org. 2023.Harvard Health Publishing.9 at-home treatments for acid reflux.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hiatal hernia.University of Chicago Medicine.GERD and obesity.National Health Service U.K.Stomach ulcer.MedlinePlus.Eosinophilic esophagitis.Bernstein MT, Graff LA, Avery L, et al.Gastrointestinal symptoms before and during menses in healthy women.BMC Womens Health. 2014;14:14. doi:10.1186/1472-6874-14-14National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GER & GERD.Albarqouni L, Moynihan R, Clark J, Scott AM, Duggan A, Del Mar C.Head of bed elevation to relieve gastroesophageal reflux symptoms: a systematic review.BMC Fam Pract. 2021;22:24. doi:10.1186/s12875-021-01369-0
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.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.GERD diet: foods that help with acid reflux (heartburn).Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Treatment. HopkinsMedicine.org. 2023.Harvard Health Publishing.9 at-home treatments for acid reflux.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hiatal hernia.University of Chicago Medicine.GERD and obesity.National Health Service U.K.Stomach ulcer.MedlinePlus.Eosinophilic esophagitis.Bernstein MT, Graff LA, Avery L, et al.Gastrointestinal symptoms before and during menses in healthy women.BMC Womens Health. 2014;14:14. doi:10.1186/1472-6874-14-14National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GER & GERD.Albarqouni L, Moynihan R, Clark J, Scott AM, Duggan A, Del Mar C.Head of bed elevation to relieve gastroesophageal reflux symptoms: a systematic review.BMC Fam Pract. 2021;22:24. doi:10.1186/s12875-021-01369-0
Johns Hopkins Medicine.GERD diet: foods that help with acid reflux (heartburn).
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Treatment. HopkinsMedicine.org. 2023.
Harvard Health Publishing.9 at-home treatments for acid reflux.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Hiatal hernia.
University of Chicago Medicine.GERD and obesity.
National Health Service U.K.Stomach ulcer.
MedlinePlus.Eosinophilic esophagitis.
Bernstein MT, Graff LA, Avery L, et al.Gastrointestinal symptoms before and during menses in healthy women.BMC Womens Health. 2014;14:14. doi:10.1186/1472-6874-14-14
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GER & GERD.
Albarqouni L, Moynihan R, Clark J, Scott AM, Duggan A, Del Mar C.Head of bed elevation to relieve gastroesophageal reflux symptoms: a systematic review.BMC Fam Pract. 2021;22:24. doi:10.1186/s12875-021-01369-0
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