Ever experienced a burning sensation in the chest or throat? Chances are, you've been a victim of heartburn.
Yep, heartburn - also known as acid reflux, a form of indigestion - sure does suck. You might have experienced it directly after eating or later at night when you're lying down. Either way, it's pretty painful when experienced first hand.
Heartburn is caused by acid from your stomach flowing up into your oesophagus (hence 'acid reflux'). Put simply, unlike the tough, thick wall of your stomach, your poor old oesophagus isn't built to stand up to corrosive digestive acids. It becomes inflamed and irritated (understandably), and you're left with a burning pain that can last several hours. And at its worst, heartburn can last long into the night, causing restless sleep.
Heartburn and other tummy troubles such as bloating, gas, constipation and diarrhoea, are often a sign of an unhealthy gut. But there is good news ahead: there is much you can do to avoid heartburn, and, if your symptoms are gut-related, you can improve your gut health in one simple step.