We've all felt it—that sharp, burning sensation rising in the middle of your chest, usually after a heavy, spicy, or late-night meal. For a moment, it's alarming; your mind might even race to thoughts of a heart attack. But more often than not, the culprit is something much more common: heartburn. Though it may seem like just a temporary discomfort, frequent heartburn is your body's way of sounding an alarm. If left unmanaged, it can lead to more serious conditions like esophageal damage and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). So, what's really causing this burning feeling? And when should you start paying closer attention? What Is Heartburn? Heartburn is a symptom of acid reflux, which occurs when the stomach acid flows back into the esophagus. This occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (the muscle that acts like a lid between your stomach and esophagus) doesn't close properly. Common triggers include: Spicy or fried foods. Carbonated beverages. Caffeine and alcohol. Having a large meal or going to bed shortly after eating. Why Does It Feel Like Chest Pain? Acid reflux pain can be deceptive. It often mimics the symptoms of a heart attack, which is why many people panic when they first experience it. The key lies in understanding the subtle differences. Heartburn, caused by acid reflux, typically feels like a sharp, burning sensation behind the breastbone, often surfacing after a heavy meal or when lying down. It may improve after burping, standing up, or taking an antacid. On the other hand, a heart attack usually presents as a more intense, crushing pain that may radiate to the arm, jaw, neck, or back and is often accompanied by shortness of breath, cold sweats, or nausea. Conditions Linked to Chronic Acidity: Chronic acidity isn't just about discomfort. It can pave the way for more serious conditions over time. Here are a few health issues commonly associated with prolonged acid reflux: Esophagitis: Inflammation of the esophagus due to repeated acid exposure. Peptic Ulcers: Open sores in the stomach or upper intestine that can radiate pain to the chest. Hiatal Hernia: Part of the stomach moves up into the chest, making reflux more likely. Common Symptoms of Heartburn and Acid Reflux: A searing pain in the middle of the chest is most noticeable after meals. Bitter taste in the mouth. Nausea or bloating. Difficulty swallowing. Belching, burping, or regurgitation. Sore throat or hoarseness. How to Manage Heartburn? Managing heartburn isn't just about temporary relief; it's about making lasting lifestyle changes that prevent flare-ups. A few simple adjustments can go a long way in keeping that burning sensation at bay: Eat smaller meals more frequently. Avoid eating late at night or lying down right after meals. Limit spicy, fatty, and acidic foods. Maintain a healthy weight. Elevate your head while sleeping. Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol. If your symptoms persist more than twice a week, it could be GERD, which needs medical attention to prevent complications. Ignoring heartburn can damage your esophagus and lead to more severe problems. Listen to your body. If something doesn't seem right, get it checked. Don't rush it off as "just acidity."

Ahead of Intelligent Health (13-14 September 2023, Basel, Switzerland), we asked Yurii Kryvoborodov, Head of AI & Data Consulting, Unicsoft, his thoughts on the future of AI in healthcare.   Do you think the increased usage of Generative AI and LLMs will have a dramatic impact on the healthcare industry and, if so, how?   Generative AI is just a part of the disruptive impact of all AI tech on the healthcare industry. It allows to dramatically reduce time efforts, costs and chances of mistakes. Generative AI and LLMs are applied to automating clinical documentation, drug discovery, tailoring of treatment plans to individual patients, real-time clinical decision support and health monitoring, extracting valuable insights from unstructured clinical records, streamlining administrative tasks like billing and claims processing, providing instant access to comprehensive medical knowledge. And this list continues.

We sat with Benjamin von Deschwanden, Co-Founder and CPO at Acodis AG, to ask him his thoughts on the future of AI in healthcare.   Do you think the increased usage of Generative AI and LLMs will have a dramatic impact on the healthcare industry and, if so, how?   I think that the strength of Generative AI lies in making huge amounts of information accessible without needing to manually sift through the source material. Being able to quickly answer any questions is going to be transformative for everyone working with increasingly bigger data sets.The challenge will be to ensure that the information we get by means of Generative AI is correct and complete – especially in healthcare – as the consequences of wrong data can be fatal. We at Acodis are actively working on practical applications of Generative AI inside our Intelligent Document Processing (IDP) Platform for Life Science and Pharma clients to drive efficiency and accelerate time to market, whilst controlling the risks.

Intelligent Health 2024 returns to Basel, Switzerland on 11th–12th September. We’ve got prominent speakers. An extensive programme. Groundbreaking advancements in #HealthTech. And much, much more. Our incredible 2024 programme will dive deeper than ever before. From sharing the latest innovation insights to exploring use cases of AI application in clinical settings from around the world. All through our industry-renowned talks, limitless networking opportunities, and much-loved, hands-on workshops. Read on to discover what themes await at the world’s largest AI and healthcare summit. 

We sat down with Margrietha H. (Greet) Vink, Erasmus MC’s Director of Research Development Office and Smart Health Tech Center, to ask her for her thoughts on the future of AI in healthcare.   Do you think the increased usage of Generative AI and LLMs will have a dramatic impact on the healthcare industry and, if so, how?   The integration of Generative AI and LLMs into the healthcare industry holds the potential to revolutionise various aspects of patient care, from diagnostics and treatment to administrative tasks and drug development. However, this transformation will require careful consideration of ethical, legal, and practical challenges to ensure that the benefits are realised in a responsible and equitable manner.