Chest
Heartburn
Heartburn is a burning feeling in the chest caused by stomach acid rising into the gullet, and while usually harmless, certain symptoms need checking and chest pain can sometimes be mistaken for it.
Education and reference only. This explains the common causes of heartburn and the warning signs that need urgent help, in plain language — it is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a clinician. If you feel very unwell or are worried, seek medical help.
Quick answer
What is heartburn?
Heartburn is a burning sensation felt behind the breastbone, often rising up towards the throat, and is usually caused by stomach acid flowing back up into the gullet. It is very common and frequently linked to particular foods, large or late meals, lying down soon after eating, being overweight, or pregnancy.
- Get urgent help: Chest pain with breathlessness, sweating, or pain spreading to the arm, neck or jaw may be a heart attack, not indigestion — call 999. Difficulty or pain when swallowing, or food sticking on the way down, needs prompt assessment.
- Self-care: For occasional heartburn, simple changes often help.
About heartburn
Heartburn is a burning sensation felt behind the breastbone, often rising up towards the throat, and is usually caused by stomach acid flowing back up into the gullet. It is very common and frequently linked to particular foods, large or late meals, lying down soon after eating, being overweight, or pregnancy. Most people experience it from time to time and it settles with simple measures. Persistent or frequent heartburn can be due to ongoing acid reflux or related conditions, which may need assessment and treatment. It is important to know that the discomfort of a heart problem can sometimes feel like indigestion, so chest pain with breathlessness, sweating, or pain spreading to the arm or jaw should never be dismissed as heartburn. Certain warning symptoms, such as difficulty swallowing or unintentional weight loss, also need prompt medical attention.
When to get help
Call 999 or go to A&E if heartburn comes with any of these warning signs:
- Chest pain with breathlessness, sweating, or pain spreading to the arm, neck or jaw may be a heart attack, not indigestion — call 999.
- Difficulty or pain when swallowing, or food sticking on the way down, needs prompt assessment.
- Vomiting blood, or passing black, tarry stools, can signal bleeding in the gut — seek urgent care.
- Unintentional weight loss alongside indigestion should be checked promptly.
- New indigestion or heartburn that starts over the age of 55, or that is persistent and not settling, needs medical assessment.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if heartburn is frequent, keeps coming back, or is not controlled by lifestyle changes and remedies from the pharmacy. Seek advice promptly if you have difficulty swallowing, food sticking, unexplained weight loss, persistent vomiting, or if your symptoms first appear later in life. A doctor can review your symptoms, consider whether tests such as a camera examination of the gullet and stomach are needed, and recommend appropriate treatment. Crucially, if you are ever unsure whether chest discomfort is heartburn or something coming from the heart, treat it as a possible emergency and call 999, particularly if you feel breathless, sweaty or unwell.
Not sure how urgent it is? It is always OK to call NHS 111 for advice, day or night.
What can cause it
Common causes of heartburn
Heartburn has many possible causes. Each links to a full, plain-language guide to that condition — what it is, how it's treated and when to seek help.
What helps
Self-care and what you can do
For occasional heartburn, simple changes often help. Eating smaller meals, avoiding eating within a few hours of bedtime, and sitting upright after meals can all reduce reflux. It may help to identify and cut back on foods and drinks that trigger your symptoms, such as rich, fatty or spicy meals, coffee, alcohol or fizzy drinks. Raising the head of your bed slightly and avoiding tight clothing around the waist can ease night-time symptoms. If you are overweight, losing some weight can reduce pressure on the stomach. Stopping smoking is also helpful. A pharmacist can advise on suitable remedies for short-term relief. If heartburn is frequent, persistent or accompanied by warning symptoms, see a doctor rather than relying on self-care.
Answers
Heartburn: frequently asked questions
How can I tell heartburn from a heart problem?
Heartburn is usually a burning feeling rising up the chest, often linked to meals. Heart-related chest pain may feel like pressure or tightness and can come with breathlessness, sweating or pain spreading to the arm or jaw. If in doubt, treat it as an emergency and call 999.
What foods make heartburn worse?
Common triggers include rich, fatty or spicy foods, large or late meals, coffee, alcohol and fizzy drinks. Identifying and cutting back on your own triggers, and not eating close to bedtime, can reduce symptoms.
When should heartburn be checked by a doctor?
See a doctor if heartburn is frequent or persistent, does not respond to lifestyle changes, or comes with difficulty swallowing, weight loss, vomiting blood or black stools. New heartburn starting over the age of 55 should also be assessed.
Can heartburn cause a cough?
Yes. Acid reflux can irritate the throat and airways, sometimes causing a persistent cough, a hoarse voice or a sensation of a lump in the throat, particularly at night. If these symptoms persist, see a doctor.
Sources
Where this is drawn from
- NICE CKS: Dyspepsia — unidentified cause.
- Guts UK
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