Heartburn is a commonly felt discomfort in your chest just under the breastbone. Despite the pain in the chest it has nothing to do with the heart. Stomach acid regurgitates back to the food pipe through a weakened cardiac sphincter that normally prevents the back flow of food and gastric juice. When heartburn occurs repeatedly it is named gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Nearly 30% population and 1/4th of pregnant women experience heartburn.
Acid is protective and digestive in nature but its strength can damage tissue easily even while the stomach has a protective layering and the cardiac sphincter prevents upper food tract. Once this sphincter is weakened, acid regurgitates and causes pain. In later stages, permanent damage or ulcers may develop in the esophagus leading to serious consequences.