Heartburn Center
Find lasting relief from heartburn and acid reflux at the only hospital-based heartburn center in Broward County.
Long-Lasting Heartburn Relief
At the Heartburn Center at Broward Health Coral Springs, we focus only on diagnosing and treating heartburn and related conditions. That focus means we see patterns other providers miss and we know which treatments hold up over time.
Our team works to find the root cause of your symptoms early, before they become more serious, then matches you with the right treatment so you can get back to eating, sleeping, and living without planning around your stomach.
Symptoms of Chronic Heartburn and GERD
Heartburn that keeps coming back is worth taking seriously, especially when it shows up more than twice a week or wakes you at night. Symptoms are not always the ones you would expect, and some have nothing to do with your stomach.
- A burning feeling in the chest, often after eating or when lying down
- Regurgitation, or a sour taste at the back of the throat
- Trouble swallowing or a feeling that food is stuck
- Chronic cough or hoarseness that will not clear
- Sore throat with no other cause
- Sleep disrupted by burning or coughing
If these sound familiar, the next step is finding out what is causing them. Complete our Heartburn Intake Form to find out if you qualify for treatment.
Conditions Caused by Chronic Heartburn
Over-the-counter medicines may bring short-term relief, but they are not a long-term solution and they can mask problems that get worse quietly. Stomach acid that keeps reaching the esophagus can cause lasting damage, and the symptoms are not always the ones you would expect.
At the Heartburn Center at Broward Health Coral Springs, we diagnose and treat conditions related to acid reflux and chronic heartburn, including:
- Barrett's esophagus
- Chronic cough
- Dental erosion
- Esophageal cancer
- Esophagitis
- Hoarseness
- Regurgitation
- Sore throat
Chest pain is not always heartburn. Call 911 if chest pain comes with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, or pain spreading to your arm, jaw, or back.
Diagnosis and Treatment Options
Diagnosing Heartburn
If heartburn keeps coming back, it may be more than discomfort. Ongoing acid reflux can damage the esophagus, so finding the cause matters.
At the Heartburn Center at Broward Health Coral Springs, we use advanced tests to get clear answers about your symptoms. These may include:
- Acid monitoring: Measures how much stomach acid is moving into your esophagus
- Esophageal function tests: Show how well your muscles move food to your stomach
- Endoscopy and imaging: Check for inflammation, blockages, or early signs of disease
With the right diagnosis, our specialists can build a treatment plan around your symptoms and your goals.
Treatment Options for Heartburn
We start with the least invasive therapies, such as lifestyle changes and medication. If those stop bringing relief, our surgical team offers some of the most advanced procedures available in South Florida. Many are outpatient, so you go home the same day and recover faster.
Surgical and minimally invasive options may include:
- Magnetic sphincter augmentation (LINX®): A titanium-coated magnetic ring placed around the lower esophagus that keeps stomach acid from moving up. It is done laparoscopically, with a shorter recovery than traditional esophageal surgery.
- Hiatal hernia repair: Repairs a hernia where the stomach pushes into the chest
- Fundoplication (Nissen or partial): Wraps the top of the stomach around the esophagus to prevent reflux
- Transoral incisionless fundoplication (TIF): A no-incision procedure done through the mouth
David's Story: Sleeping Through the Night Again
David Stockton could not sleep because of his heartburn. When he learned that untreated reflux can lead to cancer, he came to the Heartburn Center at Broward Health Coral Springs. Medication alone was not enough. Watch David and Dr. Mark Shachner explain what came next.
Frequently Asked Questions About Heartburn
Heartburn is a symptom and GERD is the condition behind it. Occasional heartburn is common, but when reflux happens more than twice a week or starts damaging the esophagus, it is diagnosed as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
Call 911 if chest pain comes with shortness of breath, sweating, nausea, or pain spreading to your arm, jaw, or back. Heartburn usually burns behind the breastbone and often gets worse after eating or when lying down, but the two can feel similar enough that it is not worth guessing.
See a doctor if heartburn happens more than twice a week, if over-the-counter medication has stopped working, or if you have trouble swallowing, unexplained weight loss, or vomiting. Reflux that keeps coming back can damage the esophagus over time, and the earlier it is found the more treatment options you have.
Untreated reflux can lead to Barrett's esophagus, a change in the lining of the esophagus that raises the risk of esophageal cancer. This is why ongoing heartburn is worth evaluating rather than managing indefinitely with medication.
Yes. Many people find lasting relief through lifestyle changes and medication, and we start with the least invasive options first. Surgery is a conversation only when other treatments stop working.
LINX® is a titanium-coated magnetic ring placed around the lower esophagus to keep stomach acid from moving up. It is implanted laparoscopically and has a shorter recovery than traditional esophageal surgery. Your doctor can tell you whether you are a candidate.
Visit the Heartburn Center in Coral Springs
The Heartburn Center is located at Broward Health Coral Springs, 3000 Coral Hills Drive. Complete the Heartburn Intake Form to find out if you qualify for treatment, or call us with questions.
Heartburn Resources
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