The short answer: heartburn is a burning sensation felt in your esophagus when acid backs up into it from your stomach. Your esophagus — the tube that connects your throat to your stomach — runs through the middle of your chest, behind your breastbone, which is why the burn feels like it’s happening around your heart…hence the name “heartburn.” There are other symptoms of heartburn as well, like a bitter or sour taste in the back of the throat. The symptoms of heartburn can last for several hours and often get worse after you eat food or lie down.
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