Although the name suggests that it may be related to the heart, you have to remember that heartburn has nothing to do with the heart. This is in fact a digestive problem where the stomach acid comes in to contact with the lining of the esophagus, which causes irritation. A lot of people suffer from an occasional heartburn. This type of antacid may cause unwanted side effects, such as constipation or diarrhea. If you want a more effective type of antacid, you will want to go for antacids that contain calcium carbonate. They are known to be the most potent in neutralizing stomach acid and are very popular among people who suffer from heartburn. This kind of damage to the esophagus can increase your risk in developing cancer of the esophagus, which is very hard to detect and very hard to treat. If you experience moderate to severe heartburn, you may want to keep these heartburn management tips in mind. Doing so will enable you to lessen the frequency of heartburn and also provide you with partial or temporary relief. If you are suffering from nighttime heartburn, the best thing that you can do is to elevate your head when you lie down. But, don t try using more pillows to do this as this can worsen heartburn as it will increase pressure on your stomach. Instead, try to elevate by placing a wedge under the mattress or by placing 6 inch blocks under the head of the bed. Improper lifestyle and diet can relax the lower esophageal sphincter or LES, which will prevent it from closing properly. When this happens, the acid in your stomach will come in contact with the esophagus, which ultimately causes you to experience what we all know as heartburn. As a chronic heartburn sufferer, you have to know about the contributing factors. When this happens, the acid will irritate the esophagus, causing you to feel a burning sensation that starts on your diaphragm and makes its way up to your chest. It is also accompanied by a bitter or sour taste in your mouth, which is basically the stomach acid your body regurgitated. This is what you will feel when you experience heartburn.