What’s the difference between heartburn and acid reflux?

There’s a significant difference between heartburn and acid reflux, but what is it?

Leading Derby consultant gastroenterologist, Dr Raj Krishnamoorthy, tells us exactly what in this informative article about acid reflux, a debilitating condition that many of us are unfortunately familiar with. Learn more about what happens if it goes untreated, if it affects the heart and more. 

How serious can acid reflux become if left untreated?

If someone keeps having reflux symptoms and they ignore it, it can cause damage to the lining of the gullet. That's a concern. It can cause erosion and what we call gastroesophageal reflux, which is a medical condition.

If it progresses, it can cause ulcers which is basically damage to the lining, but it's a bit more on the next level. It can also cause narrowing called strictures in the gullet.

On a long-term basis, sometimes it can cause a condition called Barrett's oesophagus. 

Might it indicate or lead to any serious problems?

If you have serious problems, it can cause a severe form of reflux where there's more significant damage to the lining of the gullet that needs attention. It can also cause problems like ulcers or narrowing, or strictures. 

On a very long-term basis, it can very rarely cause abnormal cells to appear if the inflammation is persistent. That can rarely lead to cancer; it isn't very common but it's one of the complications.   

Can acid reflux affect the heart? If so, how?

There's no direct damage to the heart as a result of acid reflux. Sometimes, if some patients have any recurrent symptoms, they might experience what's called palpitations, or racing of the heart. There's no direct damage to the heart as such.

Do I have heartburn or acid reflux? What's the difference between them?

This is a very commonly-asked question because the terms heartburn and acid reflux are mostly used interchangeably, but both are quite different.

So, heartburn is a symptom which someone experiences, and it's like a burning feeling in the centre of the chest caused by acid or some food contents travelling up from the stomach to the gullet, and then into the throat. This is basically what heartburn is, but when it keeps happening and is accompanied by other things like:

• Unpleasant taste in the mouth;
• Hoarseness of the voice, or;
• A cough

This means all of these symptoms, along with heartburn, defines acid reflux.  

When should I get checked out for acid reflux?

Acid reflux, or heartburn, is quite a common symptom. Most of the time, it might be due to food or activities like eating late at night. If it keeps happening on a very regular basis, like for weeks, it needs attention and assessment by a medical professional.

There are over-the-counter medications which many people use for heartburn, like antacids, but if someone is taking too many antacids over a long period then that needs attention.

Also, there are other symptoms; what we call red-flag type symptoms, which means that if someone is struggling to swallow, they're losing weight, or they're coughing frequently, these are things that need attention and assessment. 

If you’d like to see Dr Krishnamoorthy regarding acid reflux or other gastroenterology concerns you may have, make an appointment with him via his Top Doctors profile.