Heartburn is a burning discomfort starting behind the breastbone and radiating upwards.  The hydrochloric acid from the belly leaks into the esophagus and causes heartburn.  Occasional heartburn due to rich food or other way of life causes is classified as mild or episodic.  Heartburn occurring twice or more in a week is moderate or frequent.  Everyday issues even with a proper diet and lifestyle is harsh or prolonged.  5 to 15 percent of heartburn sufferers have protracted heartburn. 

Chronic heartburn is due to the lower esophagus sphincter muscle tone becoming puny, or eroded by stomach acid, and the one-way valve is unable to seal the acid inside the gut.  It may also be due to other things like motility problems, high stress, the lining of esophagus becoming delicate, and constant medicine for other lingering conditions. 

In some intense cases, the mere act of bending down will bring acid into the esophagus.  If the chronic condition prevails for long, it could lead to hard conditions like problem in swallowing, coarseness of the throat, chronic laryngitis, respiration issues like asthma or pneumonia, grim cough, and others. 

Before prolonged heartburn is diagnosed it is critical to reign out more significant diseases which cause heartburn only as a symptom.  These include hiatal hernia, GERD, peptic ulcer, gall bladder illness, gastritis and a tear in the esophagus.  Inquiry for these ailments desires intensive hardware and consultants. 

Protracted heartburn is treated with strict lifestyle changes, which include modifying eating and sleeping habits, avoiding stress, quitting smoking, reducing weight, avoiding strain on the gut, and exercising. 

OTC medication with antacids, H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors may be employed as short- and medium-term relief from heartburn.  But the major target of the consultant will be to prescribe and manage it in the long run. 

Treatment for prolonged heartburn involves total commitment from the patient to comply with the doctor’s recommendation and take the prescribed medication till the consultant stops it.  If all else fails to overcome chronic heartburn, surgery might be the last resort.  This is done to tighten the LES muscles and prevent acid from dribbling into the esophagus.

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