Heartburn vs. GERD: What’s the Difference?

Heartburn is an unpleasant but common experience. If you've eaten a large and spicy meal late at night, you might be all too familiar with this feeling of indigestion. When heartburn rears its ugly head often, you might wonder if it's something more, such as GERD.

GERD stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Given how common heartburn is, it can be hard to know if you're experiencing something normal, or if it's time to see a doctor.

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Reviewed by:

Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP

Karen 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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