: Patients have typical symptoms but no visible esophageal damage during an endoscopy.
: Brain imaging shows that perceived heartburn involves activated cortical regions in the sensory, motor, and prefrontal areas, with GERD patients showing more rapid and intense brain activity than healthy individuals. Functional vs. Erosive Heartburn Not all heartburn is caused by visible physical damage. HEART BURN
The primary cause is gastroesophageal reflux (GER), where stomach contents regurgitate into the esophagus. : Patients have typical symptoms but no visible
: Normally, the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) acts as a seal. If this muscle becomes loose or relaxes inappropriately, acid can leak through. and prefrontal areas