What is heartburn?

Heartburn is discomfort or actual pain caused by digestive acid moving into the tube that carries swallowed food to your stomach (esophagus).

Typical features of heartburn include:

• Starts as a burning sensation in the upper abdomen and moves up into the chest
• Usually occurs after eating or while lying down or bending over
• May awaken you from sleep, especially if you have eaten within two hours of going to bed
• Is usually relieved by antacids
• May be accompanied by a sour taste in your mouth — especially when you're lying down
• May be accompanied by a small amount of stomach contents rising up into the back of your throat (regurgitation)