Does Heartburn Last Long?

Heartburn – what does it feel like? Heartburn is a burning sensation behind the breastbone (sternum) that can be mild or cause severe discomfort. If you’re experiencing heartburn, particularly if you’ve never had it before, you may be wondering, how long does heartburn last?

There is no 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. If you are suffering from heartburn quite frequently over a period of time, you should get it checked out, as this could indicate a more serious condition, known as gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD).

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.

Many underlying conditions, may mean that heartburn can last for sometime, whereas if your heartburn is caused through eating spicy foods then it’s not likely to last very long at all. A time span of several hours is usually adequate to eliminate heartburn due to foods, although minor lingering pain can continue for a day or two. Heartburn should stop quite soon after the offended foods have been fully digested.

Until the cause is identified and treated, there are many of you who will experience frequent attacks. For others, it will simply come and go. Some foods can actually cause heartburn for people who have a sensitive digestive system. The way around this is to determine which foods you are sensitive too and eliminate them.

Heartburn can be caused through a contribution of certain foods. Foods such as chocolate, hot, saucy or spicy foods can be common culprits. Keep a track of the foods you have eaten prior to the attack; this way you can eliminate them one by one. 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.
Heartburn that lasts longer than several days or does not respond to antacids should be evaluated by a medical professional. It has been known, in some instances to mistake a heart attack for heartburn. Differentiating between angina and heartburn symptoms is very important especially if you are at risk of heart conditions as you need to know when to seek medical attention.

Many patients wonder, “How long does heartburn last?Unfortunately, this question cannot be answered easily. 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. Fortunately, there is natural help on the market today to help to decrease the severity of the number of heartburn episodes you experience.