For heartburn symptoms to be deemed chronic, it would have to occur more than three times a week for a period of two or three weeks. If you are suffering from continual heartburn it is important to check if there have been any alterations in diet, excessive consumption of alcohol,increased stress or the taking of strong medications on a regular basis.

For chronic heartburn to be confirmed a substantial change must have occured, if the person's diet or other aspects of their lifestyle have not changed, it could be a sign of other medical problems. It is important to be aware of the circumstances as persons using self-treatment to combat chronic heartburn may be masking the symptoms of these more serious problems

Typically, heartburn is caused by the contents in the stomach being pushed back into the esophagus, causing the acid in the stomach to irritate its sensitive lining. There are many causes of this such as:

- gastrointestinal reflux disease,

- a hiatal hernia

- or a blockage in the stomach.

When a person suffers from chronic heartburn it is advisable to check with a doctor to rule out any of these major problems.

Usually, when a person suffers from heartburn, it is not uncommon if dietary habits are inconsistent or they eat or drink something that is high in acidic content the digestive system works overtime producing excessive acids. In these cases and over the counter medication will usually quell the burning sensation and it will disappear once the substance has been processed. However, If it continues for several days during a week or two, chronic heartburn may be diagnosed and will be treated with prescription medications.

Extinguishing The Fire In The Belly

For those suffering from chronic heartburn, they are also at risk for developing ulcers in the esophagus as well as in the stomach. Many times, it is the result of the stomach being fooled into thinking more acid is needed to help with the digestive process that exacerbates the situation. Many believe falsely that drinking milk can calm an acid stomach when in reality milk may actually trigger the stomach's acid pumps to produce more due to the added content in the stomach.

Anybody suffering from chronic heartburn will need to change their lifestyle to help eliminate the problem. This usually requires a change of diet(ie staying away from rich fatty foods that require a lot of digestion and sticking to more fresh fruit and vegetables that are much easier to digest). If it is determined the heartburn is being caused by prescription medication, the doctor may alter the dosage of the medication or change to another type if one is available. The patient may also be prescribed anti-acid medication until the offending medication is better accepted by the person and the side effects disappear.

Acid indigestion, as it is often called, can be an extremely uncomfortable feeling. It can also offer similar symptoms of a heart attack and should never be ignored. When a person is suffering from chronic heartburn, getting help from a doctor or other medical professional is recommended to prevent additional damage to the esophagus or to learn if it is hiding another, potentially dangerous, condition.

As with most other bodily functions, it is important to act swiftly to determine what the problem is, what causes the problem and what needs to be done to cure the problem before it gets worse, but more importantly why suffer at all when with a little thought and preventative action this discomfort can be completely avoided and other complications associated with it will never arise..

Author's Biography: Paul Courtney contributes articles to various publications pertaining to Alternative and Herbal Medicine, for more information please visit