What Causes Heartburn Every Day: Symptoms, Relief, and When to See a Doctor?

If you’ve ever felt a burning in your chest after pizza at midnight, you’re not alone. Heartburn isn’t about your heart at all, it’s stomach acid on the loose. Millions of Americans deal with this every month, and for some, it’s daily. 

To really prevent the burn, you need to understand what is heartburn, how to spot heartburn symptoms, and what causes heartburn everyday.

Here is what you’ll learn in this article:

• What is Heartburn?

• What are the Symptoms of Heartburn? 

• Why Am I Getting Heartburn? 

• How Long Does Heartburn Last? 

• Can Heartburn be a Sign of Something Serious? 

• How You Can Stop Heartburn

• When to See a Doctor 

What is heartburn? 

Heartburn is a burning feeling in your chest, usually behind the breastbone. It’s a common condition. More than 60 million Americans say they get it at least once a month.

The burn comes from stomach acid creeping back into your esophagus (the food pipe). Your stomach lining can handle acid, but your esophagus can’t—so it stings. When stomach acid infiltrates the esophagus, it can inflame it, leading to discomfort, sharp pains, and the burning sensation that most people associate with heartburn. That’s why people often confuse heartburn symptoms with chest pain.

Heartburn can be treated at home by either using over-the-counter medications or making adjustments in your lifestyle. However, you should not ignore it. Consistent heartburn and acid reflux can be indicative of more serious conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease. 

What are the Symptoms of Heartburn?

The most common symptom of heartburn is an uncomfortable, and sometimes painful, burning sensation in your chest, near your sternum or breastbone. Other heartburn symptoms can include:

• A sour or bitter taste in your throat

• Food that feels stuck

• A cough or hoarse voice

• Pain that worsens after lying down or bending over

While heartburn can strike at any moment, it most often occurs after eating a large meal, lying down, or bending over. Lie flat, and gravity clocks out acid slides back up.

When you sit or stand up straight, gravity helps keep stomach acid in place. But when you lie on your side, it’s easier for acid and bile to move up and irritate your food pipe.

What Causes Heartburn? 

Despite the name, heartburn has nothing to do with your heart. What causes heartburn is weak muscles in your lower esophageal sphincter (LES)—a clump of muscles where the esophagus meets the stomach.

This “valve” usually closes tightly after you swallow food, but if gas forms in your stomach, it loosens, and you feel the need to belch.

Two big culprits:

• Overeating (too much food forces acid up)

• Pressure on your stomach (from obesity or pregnancy)

Fatty foods, fried meals, citrus, and coffee are common triggers. Eat them often, and they may become the reason for what causes heartburn every day.

Pregnancy Causes Heartburn

Pregnant women often ask, “What causes heartburn every day in the third trimester?” It’s the combo of pressure plus hormones like progesterone that relaxes the LES.

If you’re pregnant, you should consider using MedCline’s unique Reflux Relief System, which is designed using medical-grade materials to provide you with the most effective relief possible. 

Click to learn about pregnancy heartburn relief. 

Your diet may cause heartburn

Your diet can also play a significant role in causing acid reflux and heartburn symptoms. 

• Acidic foods and meals rich with high levels of fats and oils can inhibit the function of the LES or increase the amount of stomach acid you produce.

• If you eat these kinds of food regularly enough, they can cause heartburn everyday. 

Here are a few relatively common heartburn causes:

• Constipation

• Side effects of certain medications

• High stress levels

• Lack of sleep 

How Long Does Heartburn Last? 

It can last a few minutes or a few hours. For most, it’s short-lived. But studies show 15 million Americans get heartburn symptoms daily. That’s not just an annoyance, but it’s a lifestyle disruption.

The majority of people only experience symptoms in brief episodes, but they can last longer in more serious cases. 

Can Heartburn Be Serious?

Yes. If heartburn causes long-term irritation, you can end up with ulcers, bleeding, or even a condition called GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).

GERD is a chronic digestive disorder where stomach acid or bile backs up into the esophagus, causing painful burning sensations in the chest area.

People sometimes rush to the ER thinking heart attack, when it’s actually acid reflux. That’s why ignoring heartburn causes isn’t wise.

People with asthma are more likely to develop GERD, but it can affect anyone, from infants to the elderly. While chest pain is the most telling symptom of GERD, there are also other less common symptoms, such as:

• Difficulty swallowing

• Excess saliva production

• Chronic sore throat

GERD can also adversely affect your dental hygiene. Over long periods of time, constant acid reflux can contribute to tooth decay and erode the enamel on your teeth, resulting in cavities, bad breath, and irritation in your gums. 

How to Stop Heartburn

Here are four tried-and-true fixes:

1. Use Medication 

You may treat heartburn using over-the-counter medications. Common medications used to fight heartburn include:

• Antacids

• Acid blockers

• Proton pump inhibitors (drugs that reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes) 

2. Change Your Diet 

The kinds of food and liquids you consume can have a massive impact on the level and frequency. Acidic foods in particular can cause heartburn symptoms. Avoid the below food like:

• Spicy foods 

• Citrus fruits 

• Tomatoes 

• Onions 

• Cheese

• Chocolate

• Peppermint

• Coffee

3. Adjust Your Lifestyle 

Take a look at your lifestyle and consider whether they could be contributing to your heartburn symptoms. 

• Quit smoking tobacco 

• Limit your alcohol intake

• Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight 

• Drink ginger tea on a regular basis

4. Change Your Sleeping Position

If you find yourself experiencing particularly severe heartburn symptoms when lying down in bed at night, then change your sleep position. 

For this, use an acid reflux pillow. It is a kind of pillow that can help put your body in an ideal position. This leads to relieving your symptoms at night. 

• MedCline offers a patented three-component sleep system that elevates your entire torso.

• It helps prevent stomach acid from seeping into your esophagus while you sleep.

• It’s a product that can provide you with relief and keep you comfortable.

• At the same time, you’ll get the rest and relaxation that you need. 

When to See a Doctor 

If you get heartburn symptoms more than twice a week, or if meds don’t help, call your doctor. A doctor may prescribe some tests to examine heartburn complications. 

Certain heartburn symptoms can trigger you to consult a doctor:

• Pain while swallowing

• Shortness of breath

• Dizziness

• Lightheadedness

• Blood in stool 

Doctors may test you with an endoscopy, X-ray, or pH monitor. Don’t wait; getting checked is safer than guessing.

If you’ve been struggling with heartburn symptoms or acid reflux, then take action and get treatment today so you can get back to living your best life.