Is It Heartburn or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)?

Occasional heartburn is often treatable with over-the-counter medication and/or lifestyle modification.

Ask yourself these questions to see if your heartburn may be caused by a more serious condition, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, also called GERD.

• Is your heartburn occurring more than twice a week?
• Has the pattern of your heartburn changed? Is it worse than it use to be?
• Do you wake up at night with heartburn?
• Have you been having occasional heartburn that is associated with difficulty swallowing?
• Do you continue to have heartburn symptoms even after taking non-prescription medication?
• Do you experience hoarseness or worsening of asthma after meals, lying down, or exercise, or asthma that occurs mainly at night?
• Are you experiencing unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite?
• Do your heartburn symptoms interfere with your lifestyle or daily activity?
• Are you in need of increasing doses of nonprescription medicine to control heartburn?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, your heartburn warrants attention from a medical professional. People with long-standing chronic heartburn are at greater risk for serious complications including stricture (narrowing) of the esophagus or a potentially precancerous condition called Barrett's esophagus.

Reviewed by the doctors at the The Cleveland Clinic Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology.