Heartburn
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Heartburn is an unpleasant condition, which causes burning sensations in the throat, chest and oesophagus. Heartburn occurs when stomach acid rises up into the throat and oesophagus (which connects the mouth to the stomach) where it causes a burning pain. It affects 25-30 percent of adults in the UK1 and as many as 72 percent of women in the last three months of pregnancy2.
Heartburn is one of the most common symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). Although GORD is not considered to be serious, it is a chronic condition and can damage the lining of the oesophagus. This is called reflux oesophagitis. (Oesophagitis simply means inflammation of the oesophagus.)
References
- Kennedy T. Jones R. The prevalence of gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms in the UK population and the consultation behaviour of patients with these symptoms. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2000; 14: 1589-94
- Marrero JM, Goggin PM, de Caestecker JS, Pearce JM, Maxwell JD. Determinants of pregnancy heartburn. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1992;99: 731-4
