Heartburn refers to the burning feeling in the upper stomach and chest with a sour taste in the tongue.The heartburn can be experienced by the people after a heavy meal, especially lying down after the meal.This feeling can last up to few minutes or hours.

Heartburn is caused when the gastric acid enters the food pipe, the esophagus.This occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) that separates esophagus and the stomach becomes dysfunctional, allowing the gastric acid to flow in the esophagus.The opening of LES is called reflux and the entered acid causes irritation in the esophagus.

The common causes of heartburn are divided in to three categories: increased inward pressure on the esophageal value causing to force open it, loosening of muscles that weaken the valves and production of gastric acid is increased in the stomach.The factors that cause inward pressure on the esophageal valve either from inside or outside the stomach are: consuming very large amount of food, consuming oily foods or gas producing foods, pregnancy, wearing very tight clothes, lying down after a big meal, and bending down frequently after a big meal.

The valve muscles are weakened by chewing tobacco, smoking, consuming certain foods, and consumption of alcoholic drinks.The elements that increase gastric acids are: oily foods, fatty foods items, stress, deep fried snacks, taking some kind of medications, and eating large amount of spicy foods.

The drinks and food items that weakens the food valve to cause heartburns are tea, coffee, caffeinated drinks, alcohol, chocolate, tomato, products made out of tomato, citrus fruits and drinks, obesity, carbonated drinks, aspirin, and mints and peppermints.Hiatal hernia is a protrusion of the stomach into the esophageal valve, which results in heartburn.

It has been estimated that an individual with asthma and diabetes have the greater chances for getting heartburn.Another possible cause is the achalasia, an esophageal disorder that disturbs the flow of food in the food valve and prevents relaxation of valves.This disorder is rare and contributes much to the heartburn.Another health condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) happens when the valve is not closed and thus, causes heartburn.

The health conditions that could possible cause heartburn are mediastinitis, acid regurgitation, strongyloidiasis, copper toxicity, Zollinger-Ellison sundrome, indigestion, Worster Drought syndrome, Janbon syndrome, peptic ulcers, gastritis, lymphoma, esophagus cancer, niacin toxicity, scleroderma, stomach cancer, REST syndrome, acute gastritis, Short Bowel syndrome, and gastroparesis.