Why Heartburn and Acid Reflux Occur and What Is GERD?

Have you ever wondered why  heartburn   and   acid   reflux  occur  and  why it creates a burning sensation in your chest  and  makes it feel like part of your lunch is stuck in your throat? Have you ever wondered what is GERD  and  how does it affect you? I’ve provided some definitions below to help clear up the confusion.

Although used interchangeably, there is a difference between  heartburn ,  acid   reflux ,  and  GERD (you may hear some people call it gastro  reflux  disease, but it’s medical term is gastroesophageal  reflux  disease).

•  Acid   reflux  occurs when stomach  acid  regurgitates up into the esophagus. That stomach  reflux  is the cause of  heartburn . However, it’s possible you may feel no pain at all when stomach  reflux  occurs.
•  Heartburn  (also known as pyrosis) is a sensation of tightness, pain or discomfort in the middle of the chest that can – but doesn’t always – follow an occurrence of  acid   reflux .  Heartburn  is exactly what it would feel like if  acid  ate away at the lining of your esophagus, because that’s what’s happening.
•  Acid   reflux  disease, also known as gastroesophageal  reflux  disease (GERD) is the result of frequent  acid   reflux . This is a chronic condition relating to the malfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter (which I’ll discuss in a moment)  and  aggravated by lifestyle factors that include obesity, certain acidic foods, smoking, alcohol,  and  consumption of large meals.

 Heartburn  is oftentimes falsely associated with a heart attack (some call it a  heartburn  heart attack). But in reality it has nothing to do with the heart. So where is  heartburn  occurring in your body  and  why do people get the two confused sometimes? Well the reason for the confusion is that the burning sensation is felt at the breastbone, the spot where the heart is located. 

One way you can decipher if you’re having  heartburn  or a heart disease related condition such as a heart attack is that  heartburn  pain is less likely to be associated with physical activity. On the other hand, exercise may actually aggravate the pain experienced in a heart attack.

If you thought you were the only one suffering through the pain of  heartburn , you’re definitely not alone. According to studies, about 30% of adults experience occasional  heartburn , while 10% experience  heartburn  almost every day.

 Heartburn  is common,  and  an occasional episode is generally nothing to worry about. However, many people have already considered  heartburn  as an uncomfortable condition that requires medication or medical attention.

Below is a brief overview that shows exactly why  heartburn   and   acid   reflux  occur…

• As you eat, the food that you swallow travels from the mouth to the stomach through a hollow tube called the esophagus.
• Before food enters the stomach, it must pass through a tight muscle at the lower part of the esophagus called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES prevents food from traveling backward into the esophagus.
• Once food reaches your stomach,  acid  slowly digests the food. This  acid  is very strong  and  can damage most parts of the body. But fortunately, the stomach is protected from its own  acid  by a special mucous layer.
• The esophagus, however, does not have this same mucous layer for protection. If the lower esophageal sphincter does not close completely, the lower part of the esophagus can be damaged by stomach  acid . When this happens,  heartburn  is experienced  and  the miserable burning feeling begins.

 Heartburn  usually feels like a burning chest pain beginning behind the breastbone  and  moving upward to the neck  and  throat. Many people say it feels like food is coming back into the mouth leaving an acidic or bitter taste.