Ask a 'Heartburn Specialist' Online

Burning pain in the chest which gets worse on eating, in the evening, and on lying down is called heartburn. It occurs when the gastric acids come up into the esophagus. Foods that can trigger heartburn are onions, citrus fruits, tomato, peppermint, fried and fatty food, and large meals. The other causes are obesity, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), taking Aspirin or Ibuprofen, smoking, pregnancy, and hiatal hernia. To determine the cause of heartburn, x-rays, endoscopy, ambulatory acid probe test, and esophageal motility tests are used. Lifestyle changes and medicines like antacids help in relieving heartburn.