And, although it is an uncomfortable and painful condition, most people consider it is a nuisance rather than a condition. Besides, most people only experiences heartburn once or twice every month and it s really nothing serious. However, there are cases where heartburn can severely affect your life. 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? Chronic heartburn is when you experience this condition every single day or almost every day. If this is the case, then you may want to go to your doctor and have it checked. Leaving chronic heartburn untreated can lead to more severe complications that will significantly have a negative effect on your life. You can also consider consuming baking soda with water, which is also known as a very effective heartburn remedy. Although this may not taste as good as a soda, this will help heartburn sufferers by eliminating gas bubbles in your stomach. You also have to keep in mind that eating too much spicy and fatty food can be very harmful for heartburn patients. You also feel it in your throat and it was accompanied by a sour taste. You felt like vomiting but when you gagged, nothing went out. If all these seem familiar to you, then you are suffering from heartburn. Although heartburn may suggest a form of heart disease, it really doesn t have anything to do with the heart. Foods such as chocolates, coffee, alcohol, peppermint, fried and fatty food, as well as soda and citric fruits like oranges and pineapple. You should also avoid spicy foods as they are very difficult to digest, which causes the stomach to produce more acid, which ultimately means increasing the likelihood of heartburn.