People often describe heartburn (acid reflux) as burning and tightness, and the discomfort may be so intense that heartburn is often mistaken for a heart attack. When heartburn happens more than twice a week, that’s called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.
References
American College of Gastroenterology. (n.d.). Acid reflux/GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
American Heart Association. (2022). Heartburn or heart attack?
MedlinePlus. (2016). Heartburn.
MedlinePlus. (2018). GERD.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2020). Symptoms & causes of GER & GERD.
National Library of Medicine. (2020). Acid reflux, heartburn, and GERD: What’s the difference? NIH MedlinePlus Magazine.
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Written by:
Lauren Smith, MALauren Smith, MA, has worked in health journalism since 2017. Before joining GoodRx, she was the senior health editor and writer for HealthiNation.
Reviewed by:
Karen Hovav, MD, FAAPKaren Hovav, MD, FAAP, has more than 15 years of experience as an attending pediatrician. She has worked in a large academic center in an urban city, a small community hospital, a private practice, and an urgent care clinic.
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