Causes of Everyday Heartburn
Heartburn is common, and adults may experience burning in their chest every so often.
Sometimes, its clear why heartburn happens.
At other times, it may take a while to understand what triggers it.
Photo Composite by Amelia Manley for Verywell Health; Getty Images
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.
Not everyone has the same triggers, but some foods tend to be more frequent offenders than others.
Some foods cause problems because they relax thelower esophageal sphincter (LES).
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 Heartburn
Some peoplewake up with heartburn.
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.
This may lead to heartburn.
People might not always know they have this pop in 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.
A hole in the lining of the stomach is called anulcer.
An ulcer may cause several symptoms, including pain, indigestion, and heartburn.
When the esophagus is inflamed, the condition is calledesophagitis.
Irritation in the esophagus may lead to chronic heartburn.
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.
In addition, the esophagus might become irritated from smoking.
The irritation might make the esophagus more susceptible to damage.
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.
When it occurs frequently, it is considered chronic.
Chronic heartburn is a symptom ofgastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
If these conditions are not diagnosed or managed well, they may cause chronic heartburn.
Talk to a healthcare provider about how often heartburn occurs.
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.
Also speak to your provider about treatment and prevention.
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Johns Hopkins Medicine.Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Treatment.
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.
2014;14:14. doi:10.1186/1472-6874-14-14
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Symptoms & causes of GER & GERD.
