GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - The feeling of burning in your chest can be uncomfortable and downright scary for some people.
“Leads to a lot of people being worried about whether they're having a heart attack or not,” says Dr. George Logan, gastroenterologist at HealthPartners.
Dr. Logan says almost 20 percent of the population experiences symptoms of esophageal reflux and that it’s especially common among middle aged men.
So what causes it?
“Where the contents of the stomach, which are really very strong acid, stronger than battery acid, find their way into the esophagus, which is not built for that,” Dr. Logan says.
Dr. Logan says obesity can make the problem even worse. He says the main issue is generally the lower part of the esophagus relaxing too much, allowing acid from the stomach in.
There are medications out there to decrease acid production, and lifestyle changes are huge too - like not lying down too soon after you eat.
“Right after you eat you've got a full stomach. If you go and lie down, that acid is going to tend to roll up there,” Dr. Logan says.
Dr. Logan says prolonged symptoms can cause ulcers in your esophagus and possibly lead to cancer, so it’s important to consult your doctor if it's something you're experiencing.