Is heartburn a significant symptom of heart disease? i have had bouts with very bad heartburn, been on pantoprazole & it helps tremendously, but now i havent taken it for a couple of years & im feeling heartburn again, how commonly it is from heart?

The name comes from the location not the structure. The transition point from swallow tube to stomach is located just to the left & behind the heart. That is the site of the irritated tissue that gives pain. Since people associate the location with the heart the label was natural, but it has nothing to do with heart disease. You could have both but for other reasons and as a coincidence.

If you have the same symptom which you had years ago, you likely have heart burn, not heart related pain or chest pain, angina pectoris, which is usually triggered by exertion or stress, usually associated with chest tightness and shortness of breath, pain radiates to neck, jaw and left arm, relieved with rest. You can take pantoprazole again but you should have test done for ruling out H. pylori.