Heartburn is a condition where the acidic stomach contents back up
into the esophagus causing pain in the chest area. This reflux
usually occurs because the sphincter muscle between the esophagus
and stomach is weakened. Standing or sitting after a meal can help
reduce the reflux which causes heartburn. Continuous irritation of
the esophagus lining as in gastroesophageal reflux disease is a
risk factor for the development of adenocarcinoma.
Review Date: 01/31/2011
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of
General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
School of Medicine; and George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of
Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San
Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
