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Print ArticleHeartburn/GERD Health Center
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.
WebMD Medical Reference
Heartburn/GERD Guide
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.
