Symptoms of severe heartburn might be caused bygastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD).
GERD is a chronic condition and can be disruptive and painful.
The symptoms can be so bad that they are difficult to tell apart from a heart attack.
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Learn more about severe heartburn and GERD and when symptoms might mean that treatment is needed.
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Is Severe Heartburn GERD?
Having heartburn from time to time is not uncommon.
GERD is a chronic condition, which means that it is a long-lasting problem.
People with GERD may find symptoms worsening after eating, when lying down, and may interfere with sleeping.
They may also realize they take over-the-counter (OTC) antacids frequently after meals.
When Severe Heartburn Could Be an Emergency
Heartburn isn’t an emergency.
But it can lead to painful or disruptive symptoms and may seem like an emergency.
A healthcare provider can help determine the cause and prescribe treatment.
However there are someat-home measures you could take that might help.
For some people, avoidingfoodsthat are likely to cause symptoms may help.It’s different for each person.
Sipping small amounts of water (not gulps) while eating may also help with some symptoms of GERD.
This may help food to move down into the esophagus.
This can make sleeping more challenging.
However, there are some helpful steps you might take before going to bed.
In some cases, a healthcare provider may want to recommendsurgeryas a treatment.
Symptoms of regurgitation especially may be helped by surgery.
Some surgical procedures for GERD use anendoscopeor a special tool passed through the mouth and into the esophagus.
Otherprocedures are performed laparoscopically.
This means that several small incisions are made rather than one large one.
Specialized tools are inserted into these small openings to complete the surgery.
Recovery is usually shorter than with open surgery.
A healthcare provider will explain the different types of surgery.
Here are some types of GERD surgery:
All procedures and surgeries have somerisks.
Talk to a healthcare provider about the different options for treatment and which one might be your best choice.
Does Severe Heartburn Ever Go Away?
For some people, making lifestyle changes might help in reducing or eliminating symptoms.
For others, a course of medication may also help for a time or for long term.
Surgery may also give long-term relief.
It’s unlikely that severe symptoms will go away without treatment or lifestyle changes.
A healthcare provider can help determine which treatments to start first and when more intensive ones might be needed.
Severe symptoms are a reason to seek careimmediately if they might be an emergency.
Lifestyle changes, medications, and surgery might all be used to treat severe heartburn.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GER & GERD.
American Heart Association.Heartburn or heart attack?
Harvard Health Publishing.9 at-home treatments for acid reflux.
Food and Drug Administration.Over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn treatment.
