Have you ever felt a sudden discomfort or a burning sensation in your throat and chest usually after eating spicy and oily food? This is heartburn. It happens when digestive acid backflows from the stomach into the esophagus. Heartburn may happen to anyone, but if you frequently experience it, better ask for your doctor’s advice now because it could be due to a serious disease or disorder.

Heartburn may just be a symptom of a more serious disorder called gastroesophageal reflux or simply acid reflux. This is a condition characterized by the weakening of the muscle between the esophagus and the upper entrance of your stomach, which is supposed to be closed when food is not transmitted to your stomach for digestion and when we are not about to vomit. The weakening of the muscle lets the acid flow into the esophagus and cause heartburn. Acid reflux can be dangerous especially when it reaches the lungs as acid is very corrosive.