Heartburn symptoms typically last from a few minutes up to several hours, depending on the cause and individual factors. Mild heartburn after eating spicy or acidic foods usually persists until the food is digested, which can take around two hours but sometimes up to five hours, especially if the meal was rich or fatty

. Symptoms may also return if you bend over or lie down, as this increases pressure on the stomach and esophagus

. For some people, heartburn lasts only briefly (5 to 10 minutes), but others may experience intermittent symptoms for several hours, particularly with larger or fatty meals

. If heartburn occurs frequently (two or more times a week), it may indicate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which causes recurring symptoms until properly treated or managed

. Chronic or severe heartburn can last throughout the day and night, sometimes waking a person from sleep

. In summary:

• Mild, occasional heartburn: lasts minutes to a few hours, usually resolving as food digests.
• Heartburn after heavy or fatty meals: can last longer, up to several hours.
• Frequent or chronic heartburn (GERD): symptoms persist and recur regularly until treated.

If heartburn is frequent, severe, or interferes with daily life, medical evaluation is recommended to prevent complications

. References: