Many people confuse acid reflux and heartburn together. They think that they're the exact same thing. In reality, they're a little different. Acid reflux happens in the stomach when the acid backs up into the esophagus and irritates the tissue. Heartburn, on the other hand, is simply a symptom of acid reflux. So, all heartburns are acid refluxes, but not all acid refluxes are heartburns.

Today, let's talk more about acid reflux and heartburn to help you tell the difference:

What Is An Acid Reflux? What Is A Heartburn?

Acid reflux is one of the most common health problems today. When we eat, our stomachs produce substances to help us digest the food. Those substances are called acid, and when too much is produced, it flows back into the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that connects the mouth and the throat to the stomach. 

Heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux. Anyone who suffers from acid reflux, at least once in a while, has heartburn. Heartburn is a burning sensation in the esophagus. It's the sense that something is trapped underneath the esophageal lining. The most common treatment (if you don't want to get rid of the reflux altogether) is to kill the acid production and reduce the acid flow back into the esophagus.

What Are The Causes Of Acid Refluxes (And Heartburn)?

There are several things that contribute to acid reflux. For example, being overweight is one of the main ones. The main problem here is being overweight makes it difficult to swallow. A lot of the time, this causes people to swallow air. The air then goes into the esophagus and results in irritation.

Another thing that causes acid reflux is gum chewing. You see, when you chew gum, the muscles in your throat move in a way that they're supposed to. The problem is they're not supposed to do this so often. Hence, they're not used to moving like that, and they produce acid refluxes.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is another thing that causes acid reflux. This is a condition where the LES (Lower Esophageal Sphincter) doesn't work properly. If the LES doesn't work properly, the food in your stomach can go back up to your throat, and the acid can irritate it.

What's The Main Difference Between Heartburn And Acid Reflux?

The main difference is that acid reflux is a problem in the stomach. Heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux. You see, when the acid refluxes into the esophagus, it's called heartburn. However, when that acid refluxes into the stomach, it's simply called acid reflux.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux. It's not the problem itself. The problem is the acid refluxing into the esophagus. So, whenever you have heartburn, chances are you have acid reflux. In order to treat acid refluxes, you have to treat the root of the problem and not just the symptom.

For example, if you want to treat heartburn, you can't expect to solve it by taking a pill that just kills the acid reflux. The heartburn will return if you don't try to treat the real problem, which is acid reflux. Hence, what you need is a treatment that will kill the acid reflux and prevent it from refluxing into the esophagus. If you need help identifying a way to treat your acid reflux or heartburn, feel free to reach out to a doctor. They can advise you on lifestyle changes, prescribe drugs, and more to help you live an acid-reflux-free life!

Michel Kahaleh Gastroenterologist offers professional endoscopic procedures to treat a variety of problems. If you are looking for a gastroenterologist in NJ to help you with acid reflux and more, reach out to us today!