How Common Is Heartburn?

Question: How Common Is Heartburn?

Answer: Heartburn is very common. Nearly half of all Americans will experience heartburn at least once a month, and many people also experience chronic heartburn, which occurs two or more times per week.

Those individuals who suffer from chronic, frequent heartburn may have a more serious condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. Heartburn is the most common symptom of GERD, though there are some individuals who have been diagnosed with GERD who do not have symptoms of heartburn. Other symptoms of GERD can be the feeling of a lump in the throat, hoarseness, or a dry cough.

Approximately 50 percent of pregnant women will experience heartburn, especially during the last trimester of pregnancy.

<sub>Sources: "Heartburn and GERD FAQ." American College of Gastroenterology. 19 May 2009

"Heartburn, Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER), and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)." NIH Publication No. 07–0882 May 2007. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC). 19 May 2009

Oliveria SA, Christos PJ, Talley NJ, Dannenberg AJ, "Heartburn risk factors, knowledge, and prevention strategies: a population-based survey of individuals with heartburn" 1999 Jul 26;159(14):1592-8. National Center for Biotechnology Information - U.S. National Library of Medicine. 19 May 2009.</sub>