How Long Does Heartburn Last
Heartburn – what does it 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?
There is no 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. Several minutes is usual for most episodes although in severe cases they can last upto several days. If you are suffering from heartburn quite frequently over a period of time, you should get it checked out, as this could indicate a more serious condition, known as gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD).
How long does heartburn last; this depends on a number of factors. The underlying cause of your heartburn is a primary indicator of how long your symptoms may last. 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 your heartburn is a matter of eating spicy foods, it’s not likely to last as long as heartburn caused by other underlying 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 the offending foods have been given the opportuntiy to digest, the heartburn should go away.
While individual episodes of heartburn may come and go, those who suffer from frequent bouts of heartburn will continue to experience attacks until the cause is identified and treated. 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. Common culprits can be spicy, hot, saucy foods or even chocolate. Start by keeping track of the foods you’ve eaten recently prior to each attack and begin eliminating them one by one. You need to keep an eye on everything you eat prior to a heartburn attack as certain medications and certain drinks and foods i.e. alcholol and caffeine can trigger an attack.
If your heartburn does not respond to antacids and lasts longer than a few days, you should get a check up from your doctor. In some cases, more serious conditions, including heart attack, can be disregarded as heartburn. Differentiating between angina and heartburn symptoms is very important especially if you are at risk of heart conditions as you need to know when to seek medical attention.
How long does heartburn last, is a question on many patients lips?” Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question. Each individual will respond differently to heartburn and to different remedies, so there is a variable time frame that an individual heartburn episode can last. Natural remedies to reduce not only how many episodes you experience but the severity of heartburn can be found on the market today.
