Explore Your Treatment Options for Heartburn & GERD

At some point in life, almost everyone experiences heartburn. The most common heartburn symptom is a burning pain in the chest, just behind the breastbone. Discomfort from heartburn may get worse when bending over or lying down. The occasional case of heartburn is normal and is often treated with medications or lifestyle changes. However, more frequent heartburn may be a sign of a condition like gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), a chronic digestive disease that occurs when stomach acid flows back up the esophagus.

Heartburn Symptoms

Common symptoms of heartburn may include:

• Burning sensation in the chest that usually occurs after eating and at night
• Pain or discomfort that gets worse when lying down or bending over

General symptoms of GERD may include:

• Burning feeling in the chest that sometimes affects the throat
• Dry cough
• Chest pain
• Sore throat or hoarseness
• Problem swallowing
• Acid reflux (regurgitation of food or sour liquid)
• Feeling like there’s a lump in your throat

Heartburn Causes

In most cases, heartburn is caused when stomach acid travels back up into the esophagus (the tube that carries food from your mouth to your stomach). When you swallow, muscles around the esophagus relax to allow the food or liquid to pass down into the stomach. If the lower muscles of the esophagus aren’t relaxing properly, it can cause stomach acid to flow back, resulting in acid reflux.

Expert Heartburn Treatment in Noblesville, IN

Whether you’re in need of a consultation about heartburn or treatment for a more complex issue like GERD, you can expect compassionate, high-quality care at Riverview Health. Find a primary care physician near you and request an exam today by calling 317.565.0535 or by completing an online appointment request form.

Riverview Health provides expert heartburn treatment for people living in Noblesville, Carmel, Cicero, Fishers, Sheridan and Westfield.