Heartburn is a painful burning feeling just below or behind the
breastbone. Most of the time it comes from the esophagus. The
pain often rises in your chest from your stomach and may spread
to your neck or throat. Normally when food or liquid enters your
stomach, a band of muscle at the end of your esophagus closes
off the esophagus. This band is called the lower esophageal
sphincter (LES). If this band does not close tightly enough,
food or stomach acid can back up (reflux) into the esophagus.
The stomach contents can irritate the esophagus and cause
heartburn and other symptoms. Heartburn is more likely if you
have a hiatal hernia. A hiatal hernia is a conditions which
occurs when the top part of the stomach pokes into the chest
cavity. This weakens the LES so that it is easier for acid to
back up from the stomach into the esophagus. Pregnancy and many
medications can bring on heartburn or make it worse. Medicines
that can cause heartburn include: Anticholinergics (e.g., for
sea sickness) Beta-blockers for