Reasons You’re Getting Heartburn All of a Sudden

Mark Gurarie
·9 min read
1

If you’ve never had this before, the first time can be surprising

Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD

If you’re getting heartburn all of a sudden and you’ve never had it before, it may be alarming. Heartburn (acid reflux) feels like a sharp, burning sensation rising from your stomach, passing through your chest, and sometimes reaching your throat. Food, medication, health conditions, pregnancy, smoking, and stress are all common causes of sudden heartburn.

Though they can be uncomfortable, most cases of heartburn are temporary and resolve on their own. That said, long-term or frequent heartburn can indicate a more severe condition.

This article explains why you may be developing heartburn all of a sudden, signs the issue means something serious, and how to manage it.

<p>pipat wongsawang / Getty Images</p>

pipat wongsawang / Getty Images

Causes of Sudden Heartburn

Heartburn occurs when digestive acids in your stomach flow up the tube connecting your mouth and stomach (your esophagus), irritating its lining. It arises when the band of the muscle that’s supposed to seal off this passage—the lower esophageal sphincter (LES)—doesn’t close tightly enough.

Everything from what you eat or drink to underlying health conditions can weaken the LES, leading to a sudden, first-time acid reflux attack.

Dietary Triggers

Most cases of heartburn are triggered by what you eat and drink. Heartburn is a hallmark of indigestion, which is when your stomach is upset after a meal or snack. It can also cause belching, bloating, a feeling of fullness, nausea, and gas after eating.

Specific consumption patterns (e.g., drinking too much alcohol, caffeine, or carbonated beverages, eating too quickly, or lying down too soon after eating) raise the risk of indigestion and can trigger acid reflux. Additionally, certain foods and beverages may trigger heartburn, including:

  • Alcohol

  • Coffee or caffeinated beverages

  • Carbonated beverages

  • Chocolate

  • Peppermint or spearmint

  • Spicy, fatty, or greasy foods

  • Tomatoes, onions, or citrus (acidic foods)



Acid Reflux and GERD

Sometimes, people develop a chronic and recurring form of acid reflux known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This is when underlying conditions are causing heartburn and regurgitation (stomach acids flowing back up) two or more times a week. Additional signs of GERD include coughing or wheezing, nausea, difficulty swallowing, and hoarseness.



Medication Side-Effects

If you’re suddenly experiencing heartburn, it could be due to medications you’ve started taking. A wide range of drugs can bring on this symptom, including the following:

Pregnancy

If you’re pregnant and you’ve suddenly started feeling heartburn, you're not alone. This type of acid reflux results from the release of progesterone and estrogen hormones during pregnancy, which relaxes the LES, leading to symptoms. In addition, as the fetus grows throughout pregnancy, the uterus expands in size, which can put pressure on the abdomen.

Smoking

Smoking can also impact your digestive health. The nicotine in cigarettes can relax the muscles of the LES, increasing the risk of heartburn.

In one study published in 2015 in the journal PLoS One, 141 people who successfully quit smoking after one year reported less frequent reflux symptoms compared to 51 people who did not quit. Among those who quit, 43.9% experienced an improvement or resolution of GERD symptoms. Of those who did not quit, only 18.2% experienced the same.

Hiatal Hernia

A hiatal hernia is when part of your stomach pushes into the chest cavity through a hole or area of weakness in the abdominal walls. This can cause a sudden onset of acid reflux, which worsens when you bend over or lie down. Though hiatal hernias don't always produce symptoms, chest pain and difficulty swallowing may arise in more severe cases.

Aging

Some people develop heartburn symptoms as a natural result of aging. Aging can weaken the muscles of the LES, impacting their ability to stop stomach acids from leaving the stomach. This increases the risk of acid reflux attacks and can cause new heartburn.

Pressure on the Abdomen

Body weight can put pressure on the stomach and LES, so adding pounds can also cause a sudden onset of acid reflux. Clinical obesity can increase your risk of acid reflux and worsen existing cases. Some cases of sudden acid reflux can be traced to clothing that puts too much pressure on the abdomen.

Anxiety

Studies have found several connections between your mental and digestive health. Anxiety and depression raise the risk of developing GERD. Heartburn is a frequent symptom of anxiety disorders, along with several other symptoms.

Stomach Ulcer

Stomach ulcers (or peptic ulcers) are sores that develop in the stomach lining due to infections, NSAID use, or tumors. Heartburn is a common symptom of stomach ulcers, along with dull burning sensations in your stomach, a loss of appetite, belching, nausea, and sudden weight loss.

Conditions That Cause Heartburn-Like Pain

Several conditions—some of which are severe—cause chest or throat pains that can mimic heartburn and be mistaken for GERD. These include:



Heart Attack Symptoms

Heartburn-like symptoms can also indicate a heart attack (myocardial infarction) when heart muscles start to die due to blocked blood flow. A heart attack is a medical emergency. Heart attack symptoms include:

  • Chest pain and discomfort (known as angina)

  • Lightheadedness or feeling faint

  • Pain in the jaw, neck, or back

  • Pain or discomfort in one or both shoulders

  • Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath



Is Sudden Heartburn Normal?

In most cases, experiencing heartburn suddenly for the first time should not be a cause for alarm. It’s a common complaint. According to the National Institutes of Health, over 60 million Americans experience this symptom at least once a month. Most cases are self-limiting, meaning they resolve on their own without the need for medical attention.

That said, females and males may have different experiences of the condition. In addition, some people have attacks of acid reflux at night, which can impact their sleep.

In Females

Though females and males have heartburn at similar rates, there are differences in how they experience this condition. Studies of GERD in females have found that women are more likely to report heartburn symptoms, including pain, regurgitation, and belching.

Notably, complications of GERD, such as Barrett’s esophagus (inflammation of the esophagus) and esophageal cancer, tend to arise later in life for women, pointing to the potential role of estrogen in delaying their onset.

In Males

Males experience higher rates of heartburn-related complications like Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer. That said, there are gender-based differences in the reporting, and men are less likely than women to report acid reflux symptoms.

At Night

For many people, acid reflux can arise at night, interrupting their sleep. Some may wake up suddenly, feeling they’re choking on stomach acids. Studies have noted that up to 80% of people with GERD experience symptoms at night.

One explanation for why this happens is gravity, which helps keep stomach acids down when you’re upright. When you’re lying down, it’s easier for stomach acids to flow back into the esophagus.

In addition, research has shown that you swallow less often while asleep, which can cause stomach acids to build up and lead to problems. You also produce less saliva at night, and saliva helps neutralize stomach acids.

When Sudden Heartburn Might Be Serious

Heartburn isn’t usually serious, but that doesn’t mean it never is. It can indicate a chronic issue like GERD or an underlying condition like a stomach ulcer or hiatal hernia. If you experience any of the following heartburn-related symptoms, contact a healthcare provider:

  • Persistent heartburn that does not go away after weeks despite home care methods

  • Unintended weight loss

  • Difficulty swallowing food (dysphagia)

  • Persistent coughing and wheezing

  • Worsening symptoms with antacids, Maalox (aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide), or H2 inhibitors like Zantac 360 (famotidine)

  • Suspicion that heartburn is a side effect of medications you’re taking

In addition, several signs alongside heartburn may imply a medical emergency. Call 911 and get help if you experience:

  • Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds

  • Bloody or tarry-colored stools

  • Burning, squeezing, or tightness in the chest

How to Control Sudden (and Persistent) Heartburn

Though heartburn can be jarring and significantly impact your quality of life, there’s a lot you can do to manage this condition. Strategies for controlling and preventing sudden and persistent acid reflux include everything from making lifestyle and dietary changes to taking over-the-counter medications.

Here’s what you can try:

  • Avoid triggering foods and beverages (e.g., spicy or acidic foods, caffeinated drinks)

  • Wait for several hours after eating before lying down, bending, or exercising

  • Reduce the size of your meals

  • Stop smoking or chewing tobacco

  • Choose loose-fitting clothing that doesn’t put pressure on the abdomen

  • Lose weight if you're overweight or obese

  • Reduce stress and cope with anxiety with meditation, yoga, or other stretching methods

  • Use over-the-counter (OTC) medications such as antacids (Maalox or Tums), H2 inhibitors (Pepcid), or proton pump inhibitors (Prilosec)

Seeing a Provider for Worsening Heartburn

If you have persistent or prolonged heartburn, follow up with a healthcare provider to evaluate and diagnose your condition. The symptoms are often enough to establish a diagnosis, though you may need additional testing to rule out underlying causes. During your healthcare visit, a provider will ask about your health and symptom history and lifestyle habits (e.g., alcohol, caffeine, foods you eat, tobacco use, etc.).

Summary

The chest pain and difficulty swallowing associated with sudden heartburn can be alarming. Heartburn is a relatively common condition that is rarely serious. Certain foods, lifestyle habits, medication side effects, and underlying issues are among its causes. Seek medical attention if your heartburn is frequent (i.e., more than twice a week) or lasts a long time despite attempts to manage the condition. Certain signs, such as blood in the vomit or your stools or severe squeezing, pressure, or chest pain, warrant emergency help.

Read the original article on Verywell Health.