Heartburn is a burning pain starting behind the breastbone and radiating upwards. The hydrochloric acid from the stomach leaks into the esophagus and causes heartburn. Occasional heartburn due to rich food or other lifestyle causes is classified as mild or episodic. Heartburn occurring twice or more in a week is moderate or frequent. Everyday problems, even with a proper diet and lifestyle are severe or chronic. Five to 15 percent of heartburn sufferers suffer from chronic heartburn.
Chronic heartburn is caused by the lower esophagus sphincter muscle tone becoming weak, or eroded by stomach acid, and the one-way valve is unable to seal the acid inside the stomach. It can also be caused by other factors like motility problems, high stress, the lining of esophagus becoming sensitive and constant medication for other chronic conditions.
In some extreme cases, the mere act of bending down will bring acid into the esophagus. If the chronic condition prevails for long, it may lead to difficult conditions like difficulty in swallowing, coarseness of the throat, chronic laryngitis, respiratory problems like asthma or pneumonia, severe cough, and others. less
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