[Music] despite its name heartburn has nothing to do with your heart it happens when stomach acid refluxes up into your esophagus which sits behind your heart this can cause a burning sensation in your chest that is often mistaken for a heart attack other common symptoms are a hot acidic or bitter taste in the back of your throat belching or even a chronic cough heartburn happens when the valve between your esophagus and the stomach isn't working correctly sometimes this is from a hernia of the stomach called a hiatal hernia which moves the valve out of position other times it is caused by the valve relaxing or being under too much pressure risks for heartburn include being overweight smoking overeating pregnancy stress lack of sleep and of course food choices such as alcohol chocolate coffee and acidic foods like tomatoes and citrus fruits the most common treatments for heartburn are to modify the risks just mentioned and changing your diet medications like antacids and acid blockers can also be very effective and are available over the counter if these changes or medications don't help or if you don't want to take medications long term talk with your doctor about more options you