The Physiology of Heartburn
Authors: STEWART G. TUTTLE
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1961)

Article1 August 1961The Physiology of HeartburnSTEWART G. TUTTLE, M.D., FERNANDO RUFIN, M.D., AGOSTINHO BETTARELLO, M.D.STEWART G. TUTTLE, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, FERNANDO RUFIN, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, AGOSTINHO BETTARELLO, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-55-2-292 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptHeartburn is a subjective complaint and, as a descriptive term, suffers from lack of specificity. It is frequently used to describe any form of anterior chest discomfort except the classic oppressive pain of angina pectoris; we have seen the word used to enumerate sharp subaxillary shooting pains and suprapubic aching. Our definition as applied to the subjects in this study is more limited: heartburn, in our opinion, is a painful burning sensation located retrosternally in the midline between the xiphoid process and the manubrium. Its duration is variable, but it always has a moving quality. It may radiate to the...References1. BERNSTEINBAKER LMLA: A clinical test for esophagitis. Gastroenterology 34: 760, 1958. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. INGELFINGER FJ: Esophageal motility. Physiol. Rev. 38: 533, 1958. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. LINDQUIST EF: Design and Analysis of Experiments in Psychology and Education, Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, 1953. Google Scholar4. TUTTLEBETTARELLOGROSSMAN SGAMI: Esophageal acid perfusion test and a gastroesophageal reflux test in patients with esophagitis. Gastroenterology 38: 861, 1960. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. TUTTLEBETTARELLOGROSSMAN SGAMI: Gastroesophageal regurgitation. J. A. M. A. 176: 498, 1961. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. PALMER ED: Subacute erosive ("peptic") esophagitis: histopathologic study. Arch. Path. 59: 51, 1955. Google Scholar7. PALMER ED: Subacute erosive ("peptic") esophagitis associated with achlorhydria. New Engl. J. Med. 262: 927, 1960. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. TEXTER EC: Discussion at 60th Annual Meeting of American Gastroenterological Association, cited in Gastroenterology 38: 884, 1960. Google Scholar9. SIEGELHENDRIX CITR: Esophageal motor disturbance induced by acid perfusion in patients with esophagitis. Clin. Research (abstract) 8: 369, 1960. Google Scholar10. JONES CM: Digestive Tract Pain, The Macmillan Co., New York, 1938. Google Scholar11. LIPKINSLEISENGER MMH: Studies of visceral pain measurement of stimulus intensity and duration associated with the onset of pain in the esophagus, ileum, and colon. J. Clin. Invest. 38: 28, 1958. CrossrefGoogle Scholar12. SOUTHWORTHALMYFLOODINGELFINGER HTPCRFJ: Significance and management of heartburn. Bull. N. Y. Acad. Med. 34: 578, 1958. MedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Los Angeles, CaliforniaReceived for publication May 19, 1961.From the Gastroenterology Section, Wadsworth Hospital, Veterans Administration Center, and the Departments of Medicine and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Calif.Requests for reprints should be addressed to Stewart G. Tuttle, M.D., Wadsworth Hospital, Veterans Administration Center, Los Angeles 25, Calif. 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