Heartburn is frequently felt by more persons than is realized. It is caused by many factors including eating habits, the kind of food we eat or even by our sleeping position. The condition is also a symptom of some diseases such as gastric ulcer, or by another condition which is pregnancy. It is felt as a burning sensation or as an extreme pain that is felt just behind the breastbone, causing it to be often mistaken as a heart attack. The pain often branches out to the neck and face area along the jaw, which is the same feeling that a heart attack victim feels at the onset of the attack. This had caused many false alarms among heartburn sufferers.
Heartburn in itself is relatively harmless and is not a permanent condition, so you do not have to be alarmed. You might just have eaten something which had caused excess acid production in your stomach such as a spicy food. These acids regurgitate back up the air passage or esophagus, which causes the pain and burning sensation in the chest area. Changing your diet or whatever is causing it will usually remove the symptoms. There are also cases of heartburn being caused by emotional stress. Therefore, if you are in an emotional turmoil, you probably will get heartburn also. Sleeping in a position that will cause your stomach acids to go back up your esophagus will also cause the condition.
Yet you should not be complacent about heartburn if it becomes chronic or the pain becomes so severe as to hinder you from doing your normal daily activities. It could already be signaling the onset of a more serious disease such as a gall bladder disorder. Chronic heartburn should always be consulted with a doctor. These professionals will know what your probable risks are and can give you some medications to relieve the discomforts. It will also relieve the tension brought about by thinking too much about it, the same tension which could be making your heartburn more severe. Heartburn goes away by itself and if severe should have proper medical attention.
