If youre experiencing heartburn, particularly if youve never had it before, you may be wondering, how long does heartburn last?
Unfortunately, there is no given time frame for heartburn. For some, it may last only a few minutes and for others, it can be a chronic problem that lasts for months or even years. Each episode can last from several minutes to several days, in severe cases. Heartburn that occurs frequently over several months may indicate that you have a more serious condition, known as gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD).
How long heartburn lasts 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 isnt functioning properly, which allows stomach acids to creep up into your esophagus.
Conditions such as pregnancy and obesity can contribute to added pressure on the stomach, causing heartburn that tends to last for longer periods. If your heartburn is a matter of eating spicy foods, its not likely to last as long as heartburn caused by other underlying conditions. 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. Once your body has the opportunity to fully digest the offending foods, heartburn should usually cease soon after.
While individual episodes of heartburn may come and go, those who suffer from frequent bouts of heartburn will continue to experience attacks until the cause is identified and treated. Some people are extra sensitive to certain types of foods and can eliminate heartburn simply by identifying their triggers and eliminating them from the diet.
Certain foods are more likely to contribute to heartburn. Chocolate, spicy or hot foods and saucy foods are common culprits. Start by keeping track of the foods youve eaten recently prior to each attack and begin eliminating them one by one. Alcohol and caffeine can also contribute to heartburn, as well as certain medications, so keep tabs on everything you ingest prior to heartburn attacks.
Heartburn that lasts longer than several days or does not respond to antacids should be evaluated by a medical professional. In some cases, more serious conditions, including heart attack, can be disregarded as heartburn. If youre at risk of heart conditions, learn to differentiate heartburn and angina symptoms so you can seek proper medical attention if you experience angina.
Many patients wonder, How long does heartburn last? Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this question. 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 are natural remedies and solutions that can help reduce the number of heartburn episodes you experience and the severity of those that occur.
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