This is because chronic heartburn may indicate that you may be suffering from other medical conditions that are far more serious, such as Barrett s esophagus, Hiatal hernia, esophagitis, or GERD. In rare and extreme cases, chronic heartburn may also be caused by esophageal cancer or cancer of the esophagus. 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. Surgery is usually done if no prescription drugs helped in relieving heartburn or if you are already experiencing serious complications from heartburn. The surgery is a simple procedure and is called fundoplication. This procedure will tighten your LES muscle and the muscle will be tied in such a way to prevent acid from flowing back in to the esophagus. Foods To Avoid If you constantly experience heartburn, you may want to cut down on the consumption of citrus fruits. You have to remember that citrus fruits and juices are acidic in nature. You need to keep in mind that your goal is to stop acid from reaching your esophagus and by eating citrus fruits, which are acidic in nature, you are worsening the problem. This is because the tea will reduce unwanted toxins in your body, which is mainly one of the causes of increased stomach acid production. By cleaning your digestive system from toxins, stomach acid production will decrease, which in turn will also decrease the likelihood of heartburn. You should also drink plenty of water instead of taking carbonated drinks. The pain can last for many hours and this condition will make you feel as if food is stuck on your chest or your throat. If not treated, heartburn can result to a more serious condition, such as scarring of the esophagus and on rare cases, it can even cause cancer of the esophagus. So, what causes you to experience heartburn?