When you eat, your stomach produces acid to help you digest the food. Acid in the wrong place can lead to heartburn or a burning in the middle of the chest. You feel heartburn when stomach acid moves up into the "food pipe", also known as the esophagus. This happens when the valve, or "gate" between the esophagus and stomach functions incorrectly. Heartburn is the most common symptom of a disease called GERD, Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease. For many, symptoms are mild, for some GERD is a daily, severe problem with lifelong implications.

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