Heartburn – How Long Does It Last?
Heartburn – what does it feel like? Heartburn can be mild or in some cases can cause severe discomfort, this is due to the burning sensation behind the breastbone (sternum). If you’re experiencing heartburn, particularly if you’ve never had it before, you may be wondering, how long does heartburn last?
You will not find a given time frame for heartburn unfortunately. Heartburn for some, can be a major problem that can last for days or even years, but for the majority it will last only a few minutes. Several minutes is usual for most episodes although in severe cases they can last upto several days. A more serious condition, such as gastro esophageal reflux diesease (GERD) can be diagnosed if heartburn occurs frequently.
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 you have GERD, your symptoms may last longer because the lower esophageal sphincter isn’t functioning properly, which allows stomach acids to creep up into your esophagus.Added pressure on the stomach for e.g. through obesity or pregnancy will cause heartburn for a longer period.
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. It has been known for minor lingering pain to continue for a day or two after a heartburn episode but a time span of several hours is usually sufficient to elimate heartburn that has been caused by food. Heartburn should stop quite soon after the offended foods have been fully digested.
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 people are extra sensitive to certain types of foods and can eliminate heartburn simply by identifying their triggers and eliminating them from the diet.
Certain foods are more likely to contribute to heartburn. Foods such as chocolate, hot, saucy or spicy foods can be common culprits. You can begin eliminating foods one by one if you have kept a record of what you have eaten prior to each heartburn attack. A heartburn attack can be triggered by certain drinks, foods and medications; so it’s important for you to keep tabs on everything you eat prior to a heartburn attack.
You should seek medical advice if your heartburn lasts longer than several days or does not respond to antacids. It has been known, in some instances to mistake a heart attack for heartburn. If you’re at risk of heart conditions, learn to differentiate heartburn and angina symptoms so you can seek proper medical attention if you experience angina.
Many patients wonder, “How long does heartburn last?” 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.
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