How Long Does Heartburn Last?

Heartburn can last for a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the cause. If heartburn is due to something you ate, you will probably have symptoms until the food has been digested. Lying down or bending over can cause symptoms to return even after you've started to feel better.

Heartburn is commonly treated with over-the-counter medications such as antacids.

How Long Heartburn Lasts

How long heartburn lasts depends on the underlying cause. It may go away in a few minutes or it may take a few hours. Some of the things that can cause heartburn include:

• Acid reflux
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Hiatal hernia
• Pregnancy

Your heartburn may also get worse when you lie down or bend over. This lets gravity pull the acid from your stomach. This is why symptoms often awaken a person during the night, while sleeping.

Occasional heartburn goes away on its own and can often be prevented by avoiding certain foods (such as fried, greasy, fatty, or spicy foods). But when heartburn is severe, it usually requires medical treatment.

Severity of Heartburn

If you have heartburn due to GERD, it’s important to understand that GERD is a progressive disease involving several stages from mild to severe (including a cancerous or precancerous stage). The severity and frequency of the four stages include:

Stage 1: Mild GERD

Mild heartburn and other symptoms are experienced as infrequently as once or twice each month. Over-the-counter medications are effective enough to control symptoms.

Stage 2: Moderate GERD

Heartburn and other symptoms of GERD occur more frequently (such as once every week). When untreated, they interfere with a person’s daily activities and cause inflammation of the esophagus. Prescription medications are required.

Stage 3: Severe GERD

Heartburn and other symptoms are poorly controlled by prescription medications, and symptoms significantly impact a person’s quality of life. A surgical procedure may be required to effectively treat the symptoms.

Stage 4: Reflux-induced precancerous lesions or esophageal cancer

Stage 4 is the result of untreated severe GERD. Medical intervention and management of symptoms by an experienced healthcare provider are often required at this late stage of GERD.

When to See a Doctor

Untreated heartburn could even lead to serious conditions such as Barrett’s esophagus—a rare condition that can develop in the setting of long-standing GERD—which could be a precursor to cancer. It’s important to seek a consultation with a healthcare provider when experiencing the following:

• Heartburn that does not subside
• Heartburn that worsens
• Difficulty swallowing (or pain when swallowing)
• Heartburn that causes vomiting
• A substantial, unexplained level of weight loss
• Heartburn symptoms that persist even after taking over-the-counter antacids for more than two weeks (or for longer than recommended on the label)
• Heartburn symptoms that persist even after taking prescription medications
• Severe hoarseness or wheezing
• Discomfort from heartburn that interferes with daily activities

Treatment

Depending on the severity of your heartburn symptoms, medications and levels of treatment vary.

Over-the-Counter Treatment

Over-the-counter treatment for heartburn includes:

• Antacids: These work by lowering the amount of stomach acid. Tums, Rolaids, Maalox, and Gaviscon are examples of antacids.
• Acid blockers: These work by lowering stomach acid, thus relieving heartburn. Pepcid AC and Tagamet HB are examples of acid blockers.

Prescription Medication

Common prescription medications for heartburn include proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), such as omeprazole (Prilosec) and lansoprazole (Prevacid). Most people who have GERD need to take PPIs because over-the-counter medications are ineffective.

It’s important to understand that PPIs have may have some risks. The safety of PPIs has been linked with the dosage and duration of administration.

Some experts report that PPIs are usually considered safe if taking the lowest dosage possible for a short period. However, the potential risks of PPI therapy need to be weighed against the risks of untreated GERD.

Lifestyle Changes

Lifestyle habits often play an integral role in the development as well as the severity of heartburn. Factors that can contribute to conditions known to be linked with heartburn (such as hiatal hernia or GERD) include:

• Smoking
• Being overweight
• High stress levels
• Tight-fitting clothing and belts
• Diet (eating large portions, fatty meals, spicy foods, and eating close to bedtime)

A Word From Verywell

Heartburn can happen to anyone and is generally not cause for concern. If you find yourself experiencing prolonged heartburn, speak with your healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause so you can work toward getting some relief.