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Heartburn/GORD health centre

Heartburn/GORD overview

It's estimated that between 10%-20% of people living in the UK will experience heartburn symptoms at least once a week. Heartburn has different triggers, including certain foods, medications, obesity, or even stress. Knowing your triggers will help you design a prevention strategy. If you suffer from repeated episodes of heartburn it's important to find effective heartburn remedies to prevent complications from acid reflux. Heartburn and acid reflux treatments may include medicine, home remedies, or diet changes.

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Heartburn and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)

Despite its name, heartburn has nothing to do with the heart (although some of the symptoms are similar to a heart attack). Heartburn is an irritation of the oesophagus caused by acid that refluxes (comes up) from the stomach. Heartburn is also a symptom of more serious gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).

When swallowing, food passes down the throat and through the oesophagus to the stomach. Normally a muscular valve called the lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) opens to allow food into the stomach (or to permit belching), then it closes again. Then the stomach releases strong acids to help break down the food. But if the lower oesophageal sphincter opens too often or does not close tight enough, stomach acid can reflux or seep back into the oesophagus, damaging it and causing the burning sensation we know as heartburn.

Heartburn and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD)

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