Doctors Want You to Stop Believing This Common Heartburn Myth

If you’re reading this, you’ve probably felt heartburn at least once in your life — whether you’ve realized it or not. It’s that burning feeling in your chest after consuming spicy food, certain drinks, or even some medications.

However, if you’re feeling heartburn often, this is a more serious concern. It's a myth that heartburn is normal and just a part of life. Heartburn that happens often may signal an underlying problem. People who have acid reflux symptoms at least two to three times a week may have what’s called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

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Written by:

Brittany Doohan

Brittany Doohan was the Content Director at HealthiNation and is currently the Editorial Director at Medscape. Through her work with Medscape, she won a Silver Telly Award in May 2022 for "Sleepless Nation: A Public Health Epidemic — Episode 2: A Decade Without a Diagnosis." She has worked in health journalism and video production for more than 8 years, and loves the challenge of explaining complex topics in an easy-to-understand and creative way.

Reviewed by:

Mandy Armitage, MD

Mandy Armitage, MD, has combined clinical medicine with her passion for education and content development for many years. She served as medical director for the health technology companies HealthLoop (now Get Well) and Doximity.

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