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Heartburn Overview Slideshow

One in 10 Americans experiences heartburn symptoms at least once a week. Heartburn has different triggers, including certain foods, medications, obesity, or even stress. Knowing your triggers will help you design a prevention strategy. If you suffer from heartburn it’s important to find effective heartburn remedies to prevent the acid reflux from worsening. Heartburn treatment may include medications, home remedies, or diet changes.

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Understanding Heartburn - the Basics

What Is Heartburn?

Despite its name, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart. (Some of the symptoms, however, are similar to those of a heart attack or heart disease.) Heartburn is an irritation of the esophagus that is caused by stomach acid.

With gravity's help, a muscular valve called the lower esophageal sphincter, or LES, keeps stomach acid in the stomach. The LES is located where the esophagus meets the stomach -- below the rib cage and slightly left of center. Normally it opens to allow food into the stomach or to permit belching; then it closes again. But if the LES opens too often or does not close tight enough, stomach acid can reflux, or seep, into the esophagus and cause a burning sensation.

webMD Video

Show or hide information about video: Overeating and Acid Reflux   Overeating and Acid Reflux

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It’s not just what you eat that can cause your stomach to churn. It’s also how much you eat and what you do after meals.

Watch Video: Overeating and Acid Reflux (opens in a new window)

Show or hide information about video: High-Tech Reflux Exam   High-Tech Reflux Exam

Show or hide information about video: Asthma and Acid Reflux   Asthma and Acid Reflux

Show or hide information about video: Choosing Multivitamins Wisely

  Choosing Multivitamins Wisely

Show or hide information about video: Swallowing Disorders   Swallowing Disorders

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