Heartburn overview
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Heartburn Microchapters |
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Diagnosis |
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Treatment |
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Case Studies |
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Heartburn overview On the Web |
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American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Heartburn overview |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: José Eduardo Riceto Loyola Junior, M.D.[2]
Overview
Heartburn or pyrosis is a painful or burning sensation in the esophagus, just below the breastbone (sternum) caused by regurgitation of gastric acid.[1] The pain often rises in the chest and may radiate to the neck, throat, or angle of the jaw. Heartburn is also identified as one of the causes of chronic cough, and may even mimic asthma. Heartburn main cause is gastroesophageal reflux disease, and it is a symptom of that disorder, but it can also be mistaken with other causes of chest pain, including life-threatening ones such as acute coronary syndromes.