A little heartburn after a spicy meal may be normal. But if it happens a lot, it could be something more serious: GERD.
November 1, 2025
What Is Heartburn?
Heartburn feels like a burning sensation in your chest that occurs when stomach acid goes up into your esophagus, the tube that carries food to your stomach. This acid helps digest food in the stomach. It can hurt when it goes the wrong way.
What is GERD?
GERD stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease, when heartburn happens often and starts to affect your quality of life and daily function. Untreated, it can lead to other, more serious problems, says Ronnie Fass, MD, Medical Director of MetroHealth’s Digestive Health Center. About 1 in 5 Americans have GERD.
Common GERD Symptoms
GERD typically presents with two main symptoms: heartburn and reflux (also called regurgitation), which feels like liquid rising from your stomach into the back of your throat. GERD also can cause chest pain, difficulty swallowing, pain when swallowing, and discomfort in the upper stomach.
Less common symptoms may occur if GERD affects areas beyond the esophagus. These can include breathing issues, chronic cough, wheezing, hoarseness, and throat pain.
Why GERD Can Be Serious
Left untreated, it can damage your esophagus. This can lead to:
- Severe inflammation, which can lead to a narrowing of the esophagus
- A condition called Barrett’s esophagus, which can lead to cancer.
- Esophageal cancer, one of the fastest rising cancers in the U.S.
When to See a Doctor
One-time heartburn isn’t usually a big deal. But if you have symptoms often, and if they disrupt your daily life, it’s time to talk to a doctor.
You should get medical help right away if you have:
- Problems swallowing or pain during swallowing
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Signs of gastrointestinal bleeding
How MetroHealth Can Help
At MetroHealth’s Digestive Health Center, doctors use advanced tools to find out what’s causing your symptoms. They may use:
- Endoscopy: A small camera goes down your throat to look at your esophagus
- Biopsy: Taking a small tissue sample to check for cancer
- Imaging tests: To see how your esophagus is working
- Tests to measure the amount of reflux you have (Bravo and pH impedance)
Treatment Options
MetroHealth offers many ways to treat GERD:
Lifestyle Changes
Avoid foods that trigger GERD, like:
- Alcohol
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Citrus fruits
- Fried or spicy foods
Also, avoid bending over after eating.
Medications
Healthcare providers may suggest Histamine 2 (H2) blockers. H2 blockers include cimetidine (Tagamet) and famotidine (Pepcid).
Other medications include:
- Proton pump inhibitors. PPIs include esomeprazole (Nexium), omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid) pantoprazole (Protonix), rabeprazole (Aciphex), and dexlansoprazole (Dexilant).
- Potassium competitive acid blockers. P-CABs include vonoprazan (Voquezna)
- Sucralfate to protect the esophagus
Surgery
If other treatments don’t work, surgery may help. MetroHealth offers minimally invasive fundoplication, which tightens the muscle at the bottom of the esophagus to stop reflux.
You don’t have to live with the discomfort of frequent heartburn or GERD. Whether your symptoms are mild or more serious, MetroHealth’s Digestive Health Center is here to help. Our nationally and internationally recognized team offers expert care, advanced diagnostics, and personalized treatment options to help you feel better and protect your long-term health.
Think You Might Have GERD?
Start by talking to your primary care provider, who can help assess your symptoms and refer you to a specialist if needed.
For advanced care, MetroHealth’s Digestive Health Center offers expert evaluation and treatment, including our internationally recognized Esophageal and Swallowing Clinic. To make an appointment, call 216-778-5736.
Contributed by: Ronnie Fass, MD / Medical Director of Digestive Health Center
