Gas or acidity can not cause heart attack- The symptoms of heartburn are hard to ignore. You ve just eaten a big meal and leaned back in your favorite chair. As you begin to relax, your chest starts to hurt so much it feels like it s on fire. Heartburn (gas and acidity) is common, and an occasional episode is generally nothing to worry about. However, many people battle heartburn — a burning sensation in the food pipe (esophagus), just below or behind the breastbone — regularly, even daily. Frequent heartburn can be a serious problem, and it deserves medical attention. Frequent or constant heartburn is the most common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) — a disease in which stomach acid or, occasionally, bile flows back (refluxes) into your esophagus. Most people can manage the discomfort of heartburn with lifestyle modifications and over-the-counter medications. But if heartburn is severe, these remedies may offer only temporary or partial relief.