What Are the Treatments for Chronic Heartburn?
Chronic heartburn is often described as gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD. Heartburn occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter becomes weakened and doesn’t work properly. The muscle normally keeps stomach acid from backing up when food and liquid goes into the stomach. When the stomach acid is allowed to back up into the esophagus and throat, it causes the burning sensation in the chest called heartburn. Heartburn happens to most people occasionally, but people with chronic heartburn are considered to have GERD.
