Heartburn is a burning, hot, or sour sensation that usually starts behind the breastbone and may move up toward the throat. It often happens after meals, when bending over, or when lying down. Heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux—when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus.
Many people have heartburn from time to time. When symptoms happen often, last longer, or start to interfere with daily life or sleep, it may be gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Persistent reflux can irritate the esophagus and, over time, lead to complications if not treated.
Heartburn can feel like burning, pressure, or discomfort in the chest or upper abdomen. Some people also notice sour taste in the mouth, regurgitation of food or liquid, or coughing and throat irritation—especially at night or when lying down.
Call our office if heartburn or reflux happens more than twice a week, isn’t improving with OTC meds and lifestyle changes, or wakes you from sleep/limits daily activities. Contact us sooner if you have hoarseness, chronic cough or throat clearing, trouble or pain swallowing, food sticking, or unexplained weight loss.
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have chest pain with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, or pain spreading to the jaw, neck, arm, or back. Seek emergency care if you vomit blood or “coffee-ground” material, have black tarry or dark bloody stools, or feel faint, very weak, or short of breath.
We start by reviewing how often you have heartburn, what triggers it, and how you’ve responded to over-the-counter medicines. We also ask about difficulty swallowing, unintentional weight loss, vomiting, or anemia, which can be red flags for something more serious.
Many patients can be diagnosed based on symptoms and response to acid-reducing medication. If symptoms are frequent, don’t improve with treatment, or you have concerning features, we may recommend an upper endoscopy (EGD) to look at the esophagus and stomach, and in some cases pH testing or other studies.
Treatment focuses on reducing reflux episodes and protecting the lining of the esophagus. For many patients, lifestyle changes such as adjusting diet, avoiding late meals, elevating the head of the bed, and managing weight can significantly improve symptoms. Medications like antacids, H2 blockers, and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can reduce stomach acid and allow healing.
If symptoms are frequent, severe, or not improving, we may adjust medicines, look for complications like esophagitis or Barrett’s esophagus, or discuss other options. The best plan is tailored to your symptoms, risk factors, and test results.
If your insurance requires a referral or prior authorization, our billing office will make every effort to obtain it before services are rendered. If you choose to proceed without required authorization, insurance may deny coverage. If you are a Medicare patient, you may be asked to sign an Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN) acknowledging financial responsibility if insurance does not pay. If you are enrolled in a commercial insurance plan you will be asked to sign a non-covered services form.