If you’ve ever been unlucky enough to experience heartburn, you’re well aware that the uncomfortable, burning sensation of this digestive issue can be a guaranteed way to ruin a good meal.

A digestive disorder in which the stomach contents regularly move back up the food pipe, Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) affects about 20 percent of Americansand can result in uncomfortable symptoms, including heartburn and pain in the upper abdomen.

Many of us are all too familiar with that uncomfortable, burning sensation that creeps up within the chest like a volcano. But, while chronic heartburn sufferers may instantly recognize the symptoms of the common digestive condition, not as many are aware of how it starts and what causes it.

From office deadlines, family pressures and the daily hustle and bustle of life, as much as we try to avoid it, stress is just an inevitable part of life – and it can have a major impact on your health.

Whether it’s an occasional bout of heartburn before that big presentation at work or an upset stomach after a stressful day, many of us have suffered from the uncomfortable symptoms of Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) at one point or another.