What does heartburn feel like? The burning sensation behind the breastbone (sternum) is what's commonly known as heartburn. It can be mild or can cause quite a lot of discomfort. If you’re experiencing heartburn, particularly if you’ve never had it before, you may be wondering, how long does heartburn last?
You will not find a given time frame for heartburn unfortunately. Each episode may last for only a few minutes, but for others, it can cause major problems which can last for months or sometimes, years. In severe cases, episodes can last for several days, but in a lot of cases they can last just a few minutes. Heartburn that occurs frequently over several months may indicate that you have a more serious condition, known as gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD).
How long does heartburn last; this depends on a number of factors. A primary indicator of how long your symptoms may last are down to the underlying cause of the heartburn. If acid is creeping up into your esophagus from your stomach, this can be a sign that you have GERD. This means your symptoms may last longer due to the fact that the lower esophageal sphincter is not functioning properly. Conditions such as pregnancy and obesity can contribute to added pressure on the stomach, causing heartburn that tends to last for longer periods.
If you have been eating spicy foods, then your heartburn is not likely to last as long as heartburn which is caused by other conditions. Heartburn that has been caused by food is usually gone within the space of several hours although some minor pain may linger for a day or so. Once your body has the opportunity to fully digest the offending foods, heartburn should usually cease soon after.
Until the cause is identified and treated, there are many of you who will experience frequent attacks. For others, it will simply come and go. Some foods can actually cause heartburn for people who have a sensitive digestive system. The way around this is to determine which foods you are sensitive too and eliminate them.
Heartburn can be caused through a contribution of certain foods. Chocolate, spicy or hot foods and saucy foods are common culprits. You can begin eliminating foods one by one if you have kept a record of what you have eaten prior to each heartburn attack. A heartburn attack can be triggered by certain drinks, foods and medications; so it's important for you to keep tabs on everything you eat prior to a heartburn attack.
You should seek medical advice if your heartburn lasts longer than several days or does not respond to antacids. In some cases, more serious conditions, including heart attack, can be disregarded as heartburn. You should learn to differentiate between the symptoms for heartburn and the symptoms for angina, especially if you are at risk of heart conditions. This way, you can seek medical attention when it is required.
How long does heartburn last, is a question on many patients lips?There is no easy answer to this question unfortunately. Individual heartburn episodes can be different on everyone as we all respond differently to heartburn and the different remedies available. Natural remedies to reduce not only how many episodes you experience but the severity of heartburn can be found on the market today.