In more serious cases, you may even lose weight and become frequently dehydrated. In rare cases, you may vomit blood or have small amounts of blood in your stool. However, these are uncommon but you still have to be on the lookout for the signs and symptoms. These are basically the symptoms that you have to watch out for. Today, 5 to 15 percent of the adult population experiences severe cases of heartburn. Home remedies will only provide temporary or partial relief and chronic heartburn should be taken seriously as this can really have a negative effect on your life. So, just what is heartburn and why should you be worried if you experience this condition? So, should you be concerned if you experience heartburn? For starters, heartburn is a major symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease. And, you need to remember that this can be misdiagnosed because the burning in the chest symptom of heartburn is also a symptom of ischemic heart disease, which is a much more serious illness. By knowing about the common causes of heartburn, you will be able to have an idea on how you can prevent it from happening to you or at least reduce its occurrence. First of all, you need to know that heartburn, despite its name, is in no way related to any heart condition. Heartburn is primarily a digestive condition where stomach acid comes in contact with the esophagus. By knowing about the different reasons that causes heartburn, you will be able to know how to prevent it from happening or at least take control of it. One of the main causes of heartburn is the weakening of the sphincter. Basically, the sphincter acts as a valve that prevents stomach acid from reaching the esophagus. If you experience heartburn while sleeping, try to elevate your head using extra pillows. This way, you will let gravity do its job by keeping stomach acid inside the stomach. If you want to take antacids, go for liquid antacids instead of tablets. But, you should always consult your doctor before taking any type of medications.