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When to Seek Medical Care

• Call your health care provider if your heartburn continues to bother you despite lifestyle modifications and use of antacids or low doses of acid blockers. Call if you have heartburn more than 3 times a week for over 2 weeks. Your provider will prescribe medications or make other recommendations to help your pain.
  
  
• Seek emergency medical care. Chronic heartburn can sometimes lead to serious complications that require immediate medical attention. Go to a hospital's emergency department if you have any of the following symptoms:
  
  
  • Throwing up blood or passing blood in your stools
    
    
  • Severe pain, dizziness, or lightheadedness
    
    
  • Difficulty swallowing
    
    
  • Dehydration
    
    
  • Unintentional weight loss

NOTE: The pain of heartburn can often be confused with pain that is actually due to more serious heart problems, such as a heart attack. If you or a family member has a history of heart disease, you need to be particularly aware of this possibility. If your pain is accompanied by sweating, nausea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, or is worse with activity, you may need to have your heart evaluated immediately.