When to Call the Doctor About Heartburn or GERD

If you have any of the following heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms or conditions, contact your doctor.

• Your heartburn symptoms have become more severe or frequent.
• You are having difficulty swallowing or pain when swallowing, especially with solid foods or pills.
• Your heartburn is causing you to have nausea or vomiting (especially if you are vomiting blood or black material).
• You've experienced a drastic weight loss accompanied by heartburn.
• You have been using over-the-counter antacid medications for more than two weeks (or for a longer period than recommended on the label), and you still have heartburn symptoms.
• You have heartburn symptoms even after taking prescription or nonprescription medications.
• You have chronic hoarseness, wheezing, or asthma that is worse.
• Your discomfort interferes with your lifestyle or daily activities.
• You are having chest pain accompanied by pain in the neck, jaw, arms or legs; shortness of breath, weakness, irregular pulse or sweating.
• You have extreme stomach pain.
• You are experiencing diarrhea or black or bloody bowel movements.

Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology.