heartburn

Easy heartburn, especially after a heavy, fatty meal and a few glasses of wine. It is usually limited to acid reflux and a slight burning sensation behind the breastbone, which disappears on its own after a few hours. "But many people suffer from frequent heartburn - with serious consequences. They have to burp more often because small or large amounts of stomach acid get into the esophagus. Since the esophagus is not protected by a resistant mucous layer like the stomach, it is corroded by the stomach acid if the symptoms occur repeatedly. This leads to a painful inflammation of the esophagus, known as reflux esophagitis - which is both the cause and the consequence of heartburn. One in three patients who suffer from heartburn gets caught in this vicious circle and is affected by reflux disease," explains Dr. Reinhold Lunow, internist and medical director of the practice clinic Bornheim, near Cologne and Bonn.

Heartburn: Get frequent acid reflux checked by a doctor