Surprising Heartburn Triggers
Some heartburn triggers are obvious: chili dogs, chocolate cake, Thanksgiving. But heartburn doesn’t stop and start with food alone. If you have constant heartburn, it's time to track down the real culprit. Click through this slideshow to find some sneaky—and often overlooked—causes of heartburn.
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Your genes
Wondering what’s causing your heartburn? Take a look across the dinner table; your parents, not your plate, may be partly to blame.
In recent years, twin studies have suggested that 30% to 45% of your risk for GERD is dependent on genetic factors. (The rest is up to you: what you eat, whether you smoke, whether you exercise.)
Experts aren’t entirely sure what explains the hereditary nature of GERD. It could be due to inherited physical traits, such as abnormalities in stomach function or a hypersensitivity to stomach acids.
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