It’s one of the most common health problems facing people today. Just about anyone, no matter the demographic, race, or location related to a person, can suffer from it. It’s called heartburn and actually goes by many other names, such as acid reflux or the tongue twisting gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). But what exactly is heartburn and why is it so common? More importantly, how does one prevent the disease from happening at all? Luckily, there are answers to all these questions and knowing them could help you from experiencing a night of intense, burning pain. That’s not something anyone should go through, yet it’s a sensation many of us know all too well. Heartburn is a gastro-intestinal problem that actually has nothing to do with the heart at all. It got the name from one of the main heartburn symptoms, a burning sensation along the breastbone. While this pain usually begins and ends here, more severe cases will often lead to stomach pain and irritation in the jaws and neck as well. Heartburn is actually a form of indigestion that occurs when stomach acids are forced into the lower esophagus, which lacks the tough lining of the stomach and therefore becomes damaged. It should therefore go without saying that another heartburn symptom is an upset stomach. All of this usually happens after one eats, drinks, or smokes. This is because many of the things people put into their body are not healthy. Either that or they are often eaten in excess of a recommended amount. Lemons, oranges, and other citric fruits are an example of this, along with tomatoes and peanuts. These foods have high acidic contents or, in the case of peanuts, a high salt content. Acids and salts should be used sparingly in one’s diet or heartburn is likely to occur. Sodas, chocolate, and fatty foods are another culprit of heartburn, but they can all be regulated through a healthy diet. By taking the time to research what is healthy, heartburn and other problems related to diets high in fat and salt could be extremely lessened. It’s all a matter of taking the initiative to lead a healthy life. For more immediate ways to solve the heartburn problem there are heartburn treatments that have been proven to be very helpful. These are readily available in the form of antacids, which counteract stomach acidity, therefore lessening the acid reflux that leads to heartburn. For people who find themselves unresponsive to antacids, a treatment known as a proton pump inhibitor is available. This is a more powerful medication that stops the production of stomach acids all together, allowing easier digestion. While these medications are known to work well, there are also excellent at home indigestion remedies, such as sucking on a piece of hard candy, that are effective in their own rights (the candy treatment by helping to keep stomach acids down). Still, there is nothing more effective than forming and maintaining a healthy diet. Successfully doing so will work wonders for anyone suffering from heartburn.