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Acid indigestion, commonly known as heartburn, is the irritation of the esophagus by stomach acid. In the digestion process, a muscular valve called the lower esophageal sphincter, situated at the base of the esophagus, opens to allow food into the stomach below, then closes. If the sphincter opens too frequently, or doesn't contract tightly, stomach acid which is released to breakdown food can reflux into the esophagus, causing the uncomfortable burning sensations associated with heartburn.
The burning sensations typically begin in the center of the chest and occur almost immediately after eating. The pain can last anywhere from several minutes to an hour and is typically accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms: a sour taste in one's mouth, difficulty swallowing, excessive belching, coughing, hoarseness, a loss of voice, or wheezing.
Various dietary and lifestyle features can be contributing factors to heartburn. Dietary causes include consuming large portions, certain foods, and ingesting carbonated drinks. Lifestyle factors include smoking, being overweight, wearing tight clothes, or lying down after meals.
Although heartburn is considered normal, regularly occurring symptoms may be an indicator of a more serious medical condition with similar features called gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.

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